2027 Elections: INEC Pledges Credibility, Former Leader Urges Level Playing Field

The Chairman of Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has assured the nation that the commission will deliver free, fair, and credible elections in 2027. This commitment comes despite existing operational and legal challenges that confront the electoral process.

Amupitan made these assurances during a courtesy visit to former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC), Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), in Minna, Niger State. Abubakar, in turn, urged the electoral umpire to maintain impartiality and ensure a level playing field for all political parties, advising them to resist undue pressure ahead of the polls.

"The INEC Chairman cannot do this job alone, but the buck stops with you," Abubakar told Amupitan. "I am absolutely sure that you will abide by the oath you took. You must do justice to all and sundry. All political parties are yours; you do not have any political party to call your own."

“

The INEC Chairman cannot do this job alone, but the buck stops with you. I am absolutely sure that you will abide by the oath you took. You must do justice to all and sundry. All political parties are yours; you do not have any political party to call your own.

Abubakar stressed that the success of Nigeria's democracy hinges on the integrity of its electoral process. He advised Amupitan and his team to remain steadfast, ignore distractions, and faithfully uphold their oath of office. He cautioned that politicians often accuse the commission of bias when election results do not favor them, urging INEC to remain unfazed by such criticisms. "If anybody in the political system loses an election, you become the whipping child," he noted.

The National Peace Committee is scheduled to hold a strategic meeting in Abuja on July 29, preceding the signing of the Peace Accord for the Osun State governorship election on July 30. Abubakar views the Osun governorship poll as a crucial test for the upcoming 2027 general election.

“

With the politicians, you need to do a lot to gain their confidence because whatever you and your commissioners do, you will stand accused of bias one way or another. If anybody in the political system loses an election, you become the whipping child.