The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has assured Nigerians and political parties that the commission will remain neutral and will not support or favour any candidate or political party in the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan made the declaration on Tuesday during the formal signing of the First National Peace Accord, organised by the National Peace Committee in collaboration with The Kukah Centre. The accord seeks to commit political parties and candidates to issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections.
The INEC chairman said the commission had no interest in determining the winner of any election, stressing that its primary responsibility was to provide a transparent, credible, lawful and level playing field for all contestants.
He said INEC would operate as an impartial umpire and ensure that every candidate and political party was treated fairly throughout the electoral process.
Amupitan also appealed to political parties and candidates to make national issues the focus of their campaigns rather than resorting to personal attacks, character assassination and inflammatory statements.
He noted that the Peace Accord was timely, particularly because campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections are expected to begin on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
According to him, the agreement would help establish acceptable standards of political conduct before the commencement of the campaigns.
Describing elections in a constitutional democracy as “competitive job interviews before the electorate,” Amupitan said Nigerians deserved meaningful debates and practical solutions to the country’s challenges.
He urged candidates to outline clear and measurable plans covering areas such as economic development, security, infrastructure, healthcare, education and social inclusion.
The INEC chairman further cautioned political parties, spokespersons, digital media teams and supporters against spreading misinformation and disinformation online.
He warned that premature or unverified election results could cause unnecessary panic and erode public trust in the electoral process.
Amupitan also condemned incitement, identity-based provocation and the use of private armed groups, warning that such activities could undermine the integrity of the elections even before voting takes place.
On preparations for the 2027 elections, he disclosed that INEC was strengthening its logistics and operational capacity to coordinate approximately 1.4 million ad-hoc personnel across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide.
He said the commission had spent the last eight months improving its technology, logistics and personnel training, while incorporating lessons from recent elections in Anambra, the Federal Capital Territory, Ekiti and Osun states.
Amupitan stressed that conducting a credible election was a collective responsibility that required the cooperation of all stakeholders.
He said INEC could provide the platform and oversee the electoral process, but the conduct of political parties and candidates would ultimately determine the quality of the contest.
The commission, he added, was also introducing additional transparency measures in the management of election results as part of efforts to strengthen confidence in the 2027 polls.
Amupitan urged political actors to compete strongly but peacefully, emphasising that the ultimate goal should be to protect Nigeria’s stability and democratic development.
He warned that no political victory would be meaningful if the electoral contest left the country divided or weakened
About The Author
