INEC adopts Osun election as benchmark for 2027 – Amupitan

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The Independent National Electoral Commission has adopted the recently concluded Osun State governorship election as a benchmark for preparations for the 2027 general election, citing improved polling-unit opening, BVAS performance, electronic result transmission and crisis management.

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INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Friday when he received the Chargé d’Affaires of Canada to Nigeria, David Sproule, who led a delegation of the Canadian High Commission on a courtesy visit to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

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Amupitan said INEC had continued to use recent off-cycle elections as testing grounds for electoral reforms and operational improvements, including the Anambra State governorship election, the FCT Area Council elections and the Ekiti State governorship election.

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He said the Osun governorship election, held on August 15, had emerged as a significant benchmark for the commission.

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According to Amupitan, 3,556 of the 3,763 polling units, representing 94.5 per cent, opened for accreditation and voting by 8:30am during the election.

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He also cited what he described as optimal BVAS performance, seamless result uploads on the IReV portal and proactive crisis management.

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“We view the success in Osun not as a final destination, but as the gold standard that will guide our preparations for 2027,” Amupitan stated.

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The INEC chairman said the commission had already commenced preparations for the 2027 general election, adding that the statutory commencement of public campaigns and rallies began on August 19.

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He also disclosed that INEC participated in the signing of the First National Peace Accord on Issue-Based Campaigns by presidential candidates on August 18 under the auspices of the National Peace Committee.

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Amupitan identified five key areas of strategic focus for INEC ahead of the 2027 elections: “consolidating technological gains, deepening electoral inclusivity, strengthening institutional capacity and technical support, countering misinformation and safeguarding electoral integrity, and conducting a nationwide mock accreditation exercise in November 2026.”

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He said the mock accreditation exercise would subject the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and other electoral equipment to rigorous field testing.

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According to him, the exercise would enable the commission to assess its readiness and address potential operational challenges before the general election.

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Amupitan further disclosed that INEC was scaling up its administrative capacity for the 2027 elections, which he said would require approximately 1.4 million ad-hoc personnel across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide.

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He described the operation as one of the largest mobilisations of human resources for a national assignment in Nigeria’s history.

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The commission is also preparing for the increasing role of artificial intelligence in elections, with Amupitan announcing the establishment of a dedicated AI unit.

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He said the unit would explore the responsible application of AI in areas including data management, voter registration and results transmission, while strengthening safeguards against its misuse.

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Amupitan said INEC would participate in the “Global Conference on Responsible AI and Elections, organised by the United Nations Development Programme and Elections Canada and scheduled to hold from September 9 to 11 in Ottawa.”

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He said the conference would provide an opportunity for INEC to examine responsible applications of AI in elections and develop strategies to counter emerging threats including deepfakes and disinformation.

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The INEC chairman also “appealed for the Canadian High Commission’s assistance in facilitating expedited entry visas for members of the commission’s delegation attending the conference.”

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Meanwhile, Sproule reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to supporting “Nigeria’s democratic and electoral processes ahead of the 2027 general election.”

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The Canadian envoy said Canada remained committed to supporting countries seeking to strengthen democratic processes and ensure elections were free, fair and enjoyed the confidence and legitimacy of their citizens.

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He expressed particular interest in INEC’s preparations for the 2027 election and pledged continued Canadian engagement in electoral participation, women’s inclusion, public awareness, technical assistance and election observation.

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Sproule said Canada would continue to provide support and share relevant information and expertise that could contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s electoral processes.

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He added that both countries shared the objective of ensuring credible and legitimate elections.

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Responding, Amupitan described “Nigeria-Canada relations as a longstanding partnership anchored on mutual respect, democratic values, the rule of law and good governance.”

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He expressed appreciation for Canada’s sustained support for electoral governance, civic education, institutional strengthening and gender inclusion in Nigeria.

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Amupitan also reaffirmed that INEC’s mandate remained to deliver free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive elections that accurately reflected the sovereign will of Nigerians.

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Reaffirming the commission’s independence and neutrality, he assured the Canadian delegation and the international community of INEC’s “absolute independence, neutrality, and unyielding commitment to democratic integrity.”

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He said international partnerships remained important to strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring that Nigeria’s electoral system continued to evolve in line with global best practices.

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