The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally activated early operational and legal preparations for the 2027 general election at the commission’s induction and strategic retreat in Lagos.
Speaking at the retreat, which runs from Friday, January 9 to Saturday, January 10, 2026, Joash Amupitan, chairman of the commission, said the event marked a shift from post-election assessment to structured forward planning.
According to Amupitan, the engagement is critical to aligning leadership strategy, operations and legal compliance ahead of 2027.
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The chairman commended staff for the conduct of the Anambra off-cycle governorship election in November 2025, noting that the poll demonstrated the commission’s institutional capacity shortly after he assumed office in October.
INEC’s election calendar ahead of 2027 includes the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections scheduled for February 2026. Off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states will follow.
Amupitan said the upcoming polls would serve as operational stress tests, stressing that voter registration systems, logistics frameworks and election technology, including accreditation tools, must be fully refined before the 2027 national exercise.
He reaffirmed five guiding principles of the commission, independence, fairness, credibility, transparency and inclusion, warning that deviation from these standards would not be tolerated.
Amupitan also highlighted the growing population of first-time voters expected in 2027, noting that younger voters demand real-time transparency and technology-driven accountability.
According to him, INEC must earn their trust through reliable and inclusive systems.
On the legal framework, he said the commission would strictly apply the Electoral Act 2022 and any subsequent amendments, adding that adherence to the rule of law would define decision-making under his leadership.
Earlier, welcoming participants to the retreat, Ayobami Salami, Resident Electoral Commissioner for INEC in Lagos State, said early planning and institutional cohesion were essential as expectations around elections continue to rise.
Salami explained that the orientation and onboarding retreat was designed to strengthen leadership capacity, deepen institutional understanding and enhance operational preparedness.
He added that the sessions would also promote peer engagement and internal coordination across the commission.
He described Lagos as a fitting host, given its political complexity and role as Nigeria’s commercial hub, and urged newly appointed commissioners and senior officials to engage fully and contribute meaningfully to discussions.
Over the two-day retreat, INEC officials are deliberating on 17 thematic areas, including logistics, staffing, election security, voter registration and political party regulation. Discussions also cover inter-agency coordination and the enforcement of internal democracy within political parties.
Amupitan said election security would be prioritised to ensure voters can participate without intimidation, warning that any form of misconduct by officials would attract sanctions. He noted that INEC’s objective goes beyond delivering a credible 2027 poll.
“The commission aims to establish a continental benchmark for election management in Africa,” he said.
Participants at the retreat include national commissioners, resident electoral commissioners, directors and senior management staff of the commission.
