The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Amupitan has urged staff of the electoral body to prepare for the responsibility of delivering free, fair, and credible elections in 2027.
He said credible polls remain the only way to address the trust deficit surrounding the commission and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
Amupitan spoke on Friday in Uyo while addressing staff at the commission’s secretariat after inspecting the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in parts of the state.
According to Amupitan, the commission is committed to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He stressed that staff across the country must work together to rebuild trust and ensure that every electoral process is conducted with integrity.
“As we build up to 2027, we are in it together to serve Nigeria and strengthen democracy,” he said.
He added that the work carried out by electoral officials now will determine the credibility of the next general elections.
Collaboration With Agencies to Track Eligible Voters
The INEC chairman also revealed that the commission plans to collaborate with the National Population Commission and other relevant agencies.
This partnership aims to identify Nigerians who have reached voting age and encourage them to participate in the ongoing voter registration exercise.
He urged staff to actively promote the process and encourage citizens to register so they can participate in future elections.
Plan to Sanitize Voter Register
Amupitan further announced that INEC would conduct a voters’ revalidation exercise to ensure the accuracy of the voter register.
He explained that the process would help remove names of deceased persons and others who should no longer appear on the register.
“The register should be sanitised,” he said, noting that a clean voter database is essential for credible elections.
INEC Staff Urged to Promote Voter Registration
The INEC chairman called on staff members to support voter education efforts and help raise awareness about the registration exercise.
According to him, voter mobilisation should not be left solely to the commission’s Voter Education and Publicity unit.
He encouraged officials to assure Nigerians that their votes will count and that the commission is committed to delivering transparent elections.
Complaints of Network Issues at Registration Centres
During his visit, Amupitan inspected several CVR centres in Ikot Ekpene and Uyo.
Officials and applicants raised concerns about network challenges and login difficulties affecting the registration process.
The chairman acknowledged the complaints and assured that technical issues would be addressed promptly.
Amupitan also expressed satisfaction with the turnout of young people at the registration centres.
He noted that youth participation is critical to strengthening democracy and ensuring broader representation in the electoral process.
Meanwhile, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom, Obo Effanga, thanked the chairman for the visit and pledged the state office’s commitment to delivering credible elections ahead of 2027.
