The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), has pledged that the 2027 general election will mark a decisive break from Nigeria’s troubled electoral past, promising a process that is free, fair, transparent and firmly anchored on technology.

Addressing national and state-level officials of the Commission at an induction and strategic retreat in Lagos, Amupitan framed the coming polls as a defining test of both his leadership and the institution he heads. He told participants that INEC could no longer afford incremental improvements, but must deliver an election that meets the expectations of a more demanding and digitally savvy electorate.

“We gather here today not merely as electoral administrators and leaders, but as the custodians of the will of the Nigerian people,” he said, urging senior staff to see themselves as stewards of democracy rather than routine bureaucrats. “This retreat serves as a bridge between our institutional experience and the innovative demands of a rapidly evolving electoral landscape.”

Amupitan, who took office amid intense public scrutiny of Nigeria’s electoral system, praised INEC personnel for their handling of the November 2025 Anambra State governorship election, describing it as a “defining moment” early in his tenure. That poll, he suggested, offered a glimpse of what the Commission could achieve when planning, logistics and technology are properly aligned.

But he stressed that the real test lies ahead. The road to 2027, he noted, will be punctuated by several critical exercises: the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections scheduled for early 2026 and off-cycle governorship polls in Ekiti and Osun states. These contests, he said, will serve as proving grounds for new systems and procedures.

“These elections are not just routine exercises; they are the testing grounds for our resolve and our readiness,” he told the gathering. “They offer us the chance to refine our processes, ensuring that every technical and logistical gear is perfectly oiled before the grand national exercise of 2027.”

Central to Amupitan’s message was a set of five “non-negotiable pillars” that he said will guide INEC’s work: elections must be free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive. Each of these, he argued, requires deliberate policy choices, institutional discipline and a willingness to embrace innovation.

“We are here to organise elections that are free from any form of interference; fair to all contestants and political parties; credible in the eyes of the global community; transparent in every process; and inclusive of every Nigerian, regardless of physical ability or location,” he said.

That inclusiveness, he added, must extend to groups historically marginalised in the electoral process, including persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons and Nigerians in remote communities. He hinted at expanded use of assistive technologies, improved polling unit accessibility and more robust outreach to hard-to-reach areas.

Amupitan devoted particular attention to the role of young voters, who are expected to constitute a significant share of the electorate in 2027. Many of them, he noted, will be voting for the first time and will bring with them expectations shaped by the digital age.

“Millions of young citizens will be approaching the ballot box for the very first time. These are digital natives who demand transparency in real time and have little patience for opacity,” he said. “It is our duty to prove to these tech-savvy, and often sceptical, young voters that INEC can be trusted.”

While he did not list specific platforms, his emphasis on “real-time transparency” points to deeper integration of technology in voter registration, results transmission and public communication. Under his watch, he suggested, technology will not be an optional add-on but a core feature of election management.

On the legal front, Amupitan underscored that every innovation must be grounded in law. He warned that the Commission would not cut corners or bend regulations in the name of efficiency.

“Let it be known that under my leadership, the rule of law is not a suggestion; it is our operating system,” he declared. That stance, he said, applies both to INEC’s internal conduct and to its dealings with political parties, security agencies and other stakeholders.

The Lagos retreat, he revealed, is structured around 17 thematic areas that touch virtually every aspect of election administration: logistics, recruitment and training of ad-hoc staff, transportation, voter registration, election security and political party management, among others.

“We must ensure that the Continuous Voter Registration and revalidation exercises are beyond reproach,” he said, signalling that the integrity of the voters’ register will be a central priority. He also pointed to the need for tighter coordination with security agencies and more assertive oversight of internal party democracy and campaign finance transparency.

For Amupitan, the combination of legal rigor, technological innovation and institutional discipline offers what he called a “golden opportunity” to reset Nigeria’s electoral narrative.