INEC Begins South-East Readiness Assessment for 2027 Elections, Seeks Traditional Rulers’ Support
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced its South-East zonal readiness assessment ahead of the 2027 General Election, with its Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, reaffirming the commission’s commitment to credible elections and calling for stronger collaboration with traditional rulers to ensure peaceful polls.
Amupitan made this known during an interactive meeting with INEC staff and a readiness assessment visit to Enugu State, where he outlined preparations covering election materials, vehicle procurement, facility upgrades, staff training and logistics.
The visit forms part of INEC’s nationwide physical assessment tour, following similar exercises in the South-West, North-Central and North-West geopolitical zones.
Addressing staff, the INEC chairman described the 2027 General Election as a critical test of the commission’s preparedness, stressing that effective planning and professional conduct would be essential to the successful conduct of the polls.
He disclosed that some sensitive election materials had begun arriving, while contracts had been awarded for facility upgrades. He added that vehicles had been procured and further logistical arrangements were underway.
Amupitan also said training programmes would commence soon to prepare personnel for their responsibilities, particularly in view of changes introduced by the new Electoral Act and INEC’s guidelines and regulations for the 2027 elections.
According to him, the commission is developing training materials that staff can access beyond face-to-face sessions, while selected personnel will serve as trainers for other election workers.
The chairman charged INEC personnel to maintain strict neutrality before, during and after the elections, warning against any conduct that could suggest support for a political party.
“We expect absolute neutrality,” Amupitan told the staff, emphasising that electoral officers must remain non-partisan in both their words and actions.
He further stressed that professionalism, accountability and effective result management were crucial to rebuilding public confidence in the electoral process, warning that the commission would not tolerate misconduct capable of undermining the integrity of the elections.
As part of the visit, Amupitan led national commissioners and senior management officials to meet the Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty, Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu, to seek the support of traditional institutions ahead of the polls.
The INEC chairman described traditional rulers as important partners in promoting grassroots peace, civic participation and community stability.
He urged the royal fathers to mobilise residents to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), sensitise communities against voter apathy and vote-selling, and encourage political parties, candidates and youth groups to shun inflammatory rhetoric and electoral violence.
Amupitan also reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to neutrality, transparency and procedural fairness, assuring voters that every valid vote cast in Enugu State and across the South-East would be accurately reflected in the final results.
On election security, he said the commission’s collaboration with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security was yielding positive results. He cited the recent arrest of suspects allegedly linked to the kidnapping of corps members serving as ad hoc election personnel, adding that the Department of State Services was expected to arraign those implicated within the week.
In his response, Asadu welcomed the INEC delegation and pledged the support and prayers of traditional rulers for the commission’s leadership and the successful conduct of the 2027 elections.
He described election management as a demanding national responsibility and urged INEC officials to remain focused, while encouraging Nigerians to embrace change and contribute to strengthening democracy.
The traditional ruler also disclosed that he had been encouraging members of his community to collect their PVCs, stressing the importance of voter participation in the forthcoming elections.
The INEC chairman’s visit also included an engagement at the commission’s Enugu South Local Government Area office as part of the broader assessment of operational readiness ahead of the 2027 General Election.
INEC Begins South-East Readiness Assessment for 2027 Elections, Seeks Traditional Rulers’ Support