The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has urged staff of the electoral body to work diligently toward delivering free, fair, and credible elections ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Speaking during a visit to the INEC secretariat in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Amupitan said restoring public confidence in the electoral process is essential to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
INEC Working to Restore Public Trust
Addressing staff after inspecting the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in several local government areas, the INEC chairman acknowledged that the commission faces a trust deficit among Nigerians.
He stressed that credible elections remain the only way to rebuild confidence in the electoral system.
According to Amupitan, INEC officials across the country must ensure that all election-related activities are carried out with honesty, professionalism, and transparency.
He noted that the work being done now would directly shape the outcome of the 2027 elections, adding that Nigerians expect the electoral commission to guarantee that every vote counts.
Collaboration to Improve Voter Registration
Amupitan also revealed that INEC plans to collaborate with the National Population Commission and other relevant agencies to identify Nigerians who have reached the eligible voting age and encourage them to register.
The initiative is aimed at improving voter participation and ensuring that more citizens take advantage of the ongoing voter registration exercise.
Plans to Clean Up the Voters’ Register
The INEC chairman further announced that the commission will carry out a voter revalidation exercise to ensure the accuracy of the national voter database.
The process will remove the names of individuals who have died or those who are no longer eligible to vote.
Amupitan emphasized that maintaining a sanitized and credible voters’ register is critical to conducting transparent elections.
Call for Public Awareness
He encouraged INEC officials to actively promote voter education within their communities instead of leaving the responsibility solely to the commission’s voter education department.
Meanwhile, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, Obo Effanga, assured the chairman that the state office would intensify efforts to ensure a successful voter registration process ahead of the next national elections.
During the visit, Amupitan also inspected several registration centres in Uyo and nearby areas, where some staff reported network and login challenges.
The INEC chairman assured them that the technical issues would be addressed promptly.
