The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has assured Nigerians that the commission has the capacity to electronically transmit results in the 2027 general election, declaring that the technical glitches witnessed in 2023 have been resolved.
Speaking at a citizens’ town hall organised by the Civil Society Network on Election Integrity in Abuja, Amupitan said result transmission “is no longer an issue,” adding that the commission has strengthened its systems ahead of the next electoral cycle.
“We have the capacity to transmit results electronically. Glitch has been eliminated. It will not resurface in Nigeria,” he said.
The INEC chairman stressed that the credibility of elections begins long before polling day, insisting that political parties must operate transparently and within the law.
“For elections to inspire public confidence, the institutions that produce candidates must themselves operate transparently and within the law,” he said.
With party primaries scheduled to hold between April 23 and May 30, the commission signalled plans to review and align its guidelines and regulations with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and emerging electoral realities.
According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Dayo Oketola, the newly enacted law introduces sweeping legal and operational changes affecting party administration, candidate nominations, compliance obligations, dispute resolution mechanisms, and INEC’s regulatory mandate.
INEC said it is revising its subsidiary regulations to ensure full legal alignment ahead of 2027. The commission is also drawing lessons from past elections to address recurring challenges such as opaque party primaries, membership disputes, weak financial disclosures, and exclusionary practices that often trigger litigation.
To strengthen oversight, INEC is incorporating findings from the Political Party Performance Index (PPPI), a diagnostic tool designed to identify systemic weaknesses in party governance and compliance.
Amupitan said the goal is to shift from reactive enforcement to proactive supervision anchored on measurable standards.
The Country Director of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) Nigeria, Adebowale Olorunmola, said Nigeria is entering an era where political parties would be held to integrity standards comparable to those of the electoral umpire.
He noted that grounding reforms in empirical evidence, including PPPI insights, would enhance compliance, reduce avoidable electoral disputes, and promote transparency, inclusivity, and internal democracy within parties.
INEC confirmed that WFD and Nigerian legal and electoral experts are providing technical support for aspects of the review process.
While expressing confidence in the commission’s preparedness, Amupitan cautioned Nigerians against expecting a flawless election.
“INEC will strive as much as possible to give this country the best election. However, we may not be able to achieve a 100 per cent perfect election for now,” he said.
He admitted that logistical challenges were recorded during the recent Federal Capital Territory area council election but assured that result management and logistics remain top priorities.
“Result management and logistics are two basic issues that, from our own end, we are trying to see how best we can manage them well to enhance the transparency and credibility of the system,” he added.
With reforms underway and assurances of seamless electronic transmission, INEC says preparations for 2027 are focused on delivering what Amupitan described as “the best election Nigeria has ever had.”