INEC Chairman Prof Joash Amupitan
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has directed administrative secretaries in the 36 states and the FCT to strengthen operational discipline and remove uncertainty in preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a two-day Strategic Operational Workshop in Lagos on Monday, Amupitan described the officials as the “engine room” of INEC’s state operations and urged them to build on the successes recorded in recent off-cycle elections.
He announced the introduction of an Administrative Secretary Master Operational Tracker Template, a data-driven system that will provide real-time updates on the readiness of state offices.
The tracker will be connected to the Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC), allowing INEC headquarters to monitor election materials, logistics and staff training across the country.
According to him, the initiative will help the commission detect and resolve operational challenges before they affect the conduct of elections.
“If you tolerate shortcuts, shortcuts will multiply. If you tolerate political interference, neutrality will deteriorate… Your responsibility is to build an administrative culture capable of delivering a credible election,” Amupitan told the officials.
Quoting former United States Secretary of State Colin Powell, he stressed that successful elections require preparation, hard work and the willingness to learn from failure.
The workshop will focus on voter registration and PVC distribution, election logistics, BVAS, IReV and CROMS, as well as the recruitment and training of ad-hoc staff and strict financial compliance.
INEC said the 2027 general elections will begin on January 16, with the final voter register due on January 11, campaigns ending on February 18, a possible presidential run-off on February 28, and governorship and State Assembly elections fixed for March 6, 2027.
