As preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has called on electoral officials to prioritise credibility in the conduct of elections.
According to him, transparent and trustworthy polls remain the only way to rebuild public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
Amupitan made the call during a visit to the commission’s secretariat in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where he inspected the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise across several local government areas.
Addressing members of staff, he stressed that restoring public trust in the electoral body must be a collective responsibility.
He acknowledged that the electoral commission currently faces a trust deficit among Nigerians, adding that the situation can only change if elections are conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner.
He urged officials at both national and state levels to align their efforts toward strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 polls.
According to the INEC chairman, Nigerians expect elections that genuinely reflect the will of the people.
He emphasised that whoever emerges from the electoral process must be a true choice of the electorate, stressing that credible elections are essential for sustaining democracy in the country.
Amupitan also revealed that the commission plans to collaborate with the National Population Commission and other relevant government agencies to identify Nigerians who have reached voting age.
The partnership, he said, will help encourage eligible citizens to participate actively in the voter registration exercise.
In addition, the electoral body plans to conduct a voter register revalidation exercise to ensure the database remains accurate and credible.
The process will involve removing the names of deceased persons and eliminating entries that should not appear in the register.
He further urged staff members of the commission to intensify voter mobilisation and public enlightenment.
According to him, voter education should not be left solely to the commission’s voter education department, as every staff member has a role to play in encouraging Nigerians to register and vote.
Meanwhile, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Akwa Ibom State, Obo Effanga, assured the INEC chairman that the state office remains committed to delivering credible elections in line with the commission’s mandate.
During the inspection tour of registration centres in Ikot Ekpene and Uyo, officials reported network and login challenges affecting the registration process.
Amupitan, however, assured that the technical issues would be resolved promptly.
He also expressed satisfaction with the strong turnout of young Nigerians registering to vote and called for greater voter awareness nationwide.
