The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has said the commission may not be able to deliver a completely flawless election in 2027, even as he assured Nigerians of its readiness to electronically transmit election results.
Amupitan gave the assurance on Sunday during a live Citizens’ Town Hall programme broadcast nationwide and titled, ‘Electoral Act 2026: What it means for your votes and the 2027 elections,’ where stakeholders discussed preparations ahead of the next general polls.
The session, moderated by television presenter Seun Okinbaloye and Yiaga Africa Executive Director, Samson Itodo, was attended by key political figures including the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda; Labour Party Interim National Chairman, Nenadi Usman; former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili; and Senator Ireti Kingibe, among others.
Speaking during the programme, the INEC chairman urged Nigerians to moderate expectations, stressing that while the commission would work towards credible polls, perfection remained unrealistic at the moment.
He maintained that the commission possessed the technical capacity to transmit election results electronically, although challenges surrounding real-time transmission could still arise.
He described elections as the foundation of democratic governance and stressed the need for sustained voter education and transparency, noting that an informed electorate and strong institutions were essential to credible electoral outcomes.
Amupitan disclosed that INEC played an active role in drafting the Electoral Act 2026, explaining that the process began about three years ago through collaboration involving the National Assembly, civil society organisations and the electoral body, with additional recommendations later incorporated.
Addressing controversies surrounding electronic transmission of results after the 2023 general elections, he revealed that INEC advocated mandatory transmission during legislative discussions, adding that debates mainly centred on defining what qualifies as real-time transmission.
He cited the recent Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections as an example of logistical difficulties, explaining that poor terrain and communication challenges delayed results from one ward in Kuje Area Council until the following day, despite timely submissions from other areas.
According to him, the delay highlighted operational realities in remote locations, insisting that the challenge was not the transmission system itself but factors affecting accessibility and communication in certain communities.
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