Dare Babalola
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a major step toward strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process with the release of the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections, alongside sweeping reforms aimed at improving its procurement systems.
The announcement was made on Monday via the Commission’s official X account, highlighting outcomes from a three-day high-level capacity-building workshop held in Lagos in collaboration with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS).
The workshop, which brought together National Electoral Commissioners and top management staff, focused on enhancing institutional capacity as preparations intensify for the 2027 polls.
Speaking on behalf of the INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, the National Commissioner, May Agbamuche-Mbu, described the engagement as a pivotal moment in the Commission’s reform agenda. She noted that the initiative comes at a time of significant legal and operational changes within Nigeria’s electoral framework.
According to her, the Commission is committed not only to conducting elections but also to strengthening the broader democratic system through transparent, accountable, and resilient processes.
In his remarks, Amupitan reflected on developments since assuming office, noting that the workshop held 159 days into his tenure represents a critical turning point for the Commission. He stressed the need for a comprehensive overhaul in how INEC approaches its responsibilities.
“My primary mandate, and indeed our collective burden, is to ensure that the electoral architecture of Nigeria is not just robust in theory but strong in practice,” he stated.
The INEC Chairman emphasised that credible elections depend on careful planning, transparency, and accountability, identifying procurement as a crucial but often overlooked component of the electoral process.
“When procurement is handled with integrity, it becomes the bedrock of public confidence. When it is compromised, it becomes the fault line through which trust collapses,” he said.
Amupitan explained that electoral credibility extends beyond activities on election day, covering the entire value chain, including logistics, procurement, training, and deployment of personnel and materials.
He also highlighted the impact of the recently enacted Electoral Act 2026, describing it as a landmark reform that has reshaped the Commission’s operations. He pointed specifically to the amendment reducing the mandatory notice period for elections from 360 to 300 days, noting that the change requires faster planning and execution.
“This compressed timeline is not a challenge to be lamented but a reality to be mastered,” he said. “It requires us to work with the efficiency of a well-calibrated machine, where every component—procurement, logistics, training, and deployment—operates in seamless synchrony.”
The Commission said the new measures are part of broader efforts to safeguard the integrity of the 2027 elections and reinforce public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
