Joash Amupitan, the chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has reaffirmed the body’s commitment to upholding electoral integrity ahead of the 2027 general elections. Amupitan made the assurance while presiding over operations at the commission’s National Situation Room in Abuja during the conduct of multiple by-elections held on Saturday.
The statement appears to address recent speculations linking the INEC chairman to a foreign trip allegedly intended to plot the rigging of the upcoming presidential election with leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the presidency, and other stakeholders. In a statement e-signed by Chief Press Secretary Adedayo Oketola, Amupitan dismissed such narratives, emphasizing that the commission’s primary mandate in the Situation Room is monitoring and proactive crisis resolution.
“Whatever administrative or field challenges arose before the day of the elections, the commission was able to nip them in the bud effectively,” Amupitan stated. “We remain committed to refining our processes so that every subsequent exercise reflects higher standards of efficiency and public confidence.”
Amupitan described the recent by-elections as a crucial operational benchmark for testing the nation’s electoral infrastructure. He argued that no electoral contest should be viewed as trivial or routine, asserting that every off-cycle poll serves as an important dress rehearsal for nationwide elections. According to the INEC chairman, these exercises allow the commission to continuously audit its logistics framework, stress-test technological deployment, and evaluate administrative field readiness.
The commission conducted four key legislative by-elections across Gombe, Kano, Bauchi, and Delta states. The specific constituencies included the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe State, the Dawakin Kudu State Constituency in Kano State, the Sakwa and Disina State Constituencies in Bauchi State, and the Udu State Constituency in Delta State.
Accompanied by National Commissioners and senior management officials, Amupitan monitored the multi-state exercise as operational reports arrived from the field. He expressed satisfaction that operational bottlenecks encountered prior to polling were swiftly identified and resolved, thanking the technical team for ensuring seamless monitoring of the process without any hitch.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
