Dare Babalola
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), is expected to headline a high-level policy dialogue on Nigeria’s electoral system scheduled to hold later this month in Abuja.
The engagement, which will bring together key actors in the democratic process, is being convened by the Abuja-based legal practice, Law Corridor, and is fixed for April 29, 2026, at the Abuja Continental Hotel.
According to the organisers, the forum is designed as a broad consultation platform for stakeholders drawn from political parties, civil society groups, election monitoring bodies, and international observer missions.
The discussions are expected to focus on strengthening electoral integrity and improving institutional performance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A statement issued by the organisers on Friday indicated that several prominent legal practitioners and public affairs experts are also billed to participate in the dialogue.
Among those expected are Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) Muyiwa Atoyebi, Bala Maiyaki, Ahmed Raji, Patrick Ikwueto, Alhassan Umar, as well as commentators and analysts such as Seun Okinbaloye, Dantele Yusuf, and Bukola Idowu, among others.
The organisers said the dialogue is intended to deepen cooperation between public institutions and private sector stakeholders, with a focus on identifying practical reforms to address recurring challenges in Nigeria’s electoral framework.
Managing Partner of Law Corridor, Henry Kelechukwu Eni-Otu, explained that the timing of the programme is deliberate, given its proximity to the next general elections.
He said the forum would provide an opportunity for structured engagement on critical issues affecting the electoral system, adding that the goal is to generate actionable ideas that can help strengthen democratic processes and public confidence in elections.
Eni-Otu further noted that the outcome of the dialogue would not end with discussions alone, as a detailed policy document capturing key recommendations and reform proposals would be compiled and forwarded to relevant government institutions for consideration.
He also recalled that the previous edition of the policy dialogue focused on governance and accountability issues in the real estate sector, and was chaired by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede.
