The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally adopted the recently concluded Osun State governorship election as the benchmark for its preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 general election, citing improved polling-unit opening, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) performance, electronic result transmission and crisis management as key achievements.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, made this known on Friday during a courtesy visit by the Chargé d’Affaires of Canada to Nigeria, David Sproule, who led a delegation of the Canadian High Commission to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Osun Election Sets New Standard
Amupitan disclosed that INEC had been using recent off-cycle elections as testing grounds for electoral reforms and operational improvements. These include the Anambra State governorship election, the FCT Area Council elections, and the Ekiti State governorship election. However, he said the Osun governorship election, held on August 15, had emerged as a significant benchmark for the commission.
According to Amupitan, 3,556 of the 3,763 polling units, representing 94.5 per cent, opened for accreditation and voting by 8:30am during the election. He also highlighted what he described as optimal BVAS performance, seamless result uploads on the IReV portal, and proactive crisis management.
“We view the success in Osun not as a final destination, but as the gold standard that will guide our preparations for 2027,” Amupitan stated.
Preparations for 2027 Underway
The INEC chairman said the commission had already commenced preparations for the 2027 general election, noting that the statutory commencement of public campaigns and rallies began on August 19. He also disclosed that INEC participated in the signing of the First National Peace Accord on Issue-Based Campaigns by presidential candidates on August 18 under the auspices of the National Peace Committee.
Amupitan identified five key areas of strategic focus for INEC ahead of the 2027 elections: consolidating technological gains, deepening electoral inclusivity, strengthening institutional capacity and technical support, countering misinformation and safeguarding electoral integrity, and conducting a nationwide mock accreditation exercise in November 2026.
He said the mock accreditation exercise would subject the BVAS and other electoral equipment to rigorous field testing, enabling the commission to assess its readiness and address potential operational challenges before the general election.
Massive Mobilisation and AI Integration
Amupitan further disclosed that INEC was scaling up its administrative capacity for the 2027 elections, which he said would require approximately 1.4 million ad-hoc personnel across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide. He described the operation as one of the largest mobilisations of human resources for a national assignment in Nigeria’s history.
The commission is also preparing for the increasing role of artificial intelligence in elections. Amupitan announced the establishment of a dedicated AI unit to explore the responsible application of AI in areas including data management, voter registration and results transmission, while strengthening safeguards against its misuse.
INEC will participate in the “Global Conference on Responsible AI and Elections,” organised by the United Nations Development Programme and Elections Canada, scheduled to hold from September 9 to 11 in Ottawa. Amupitan said the conference would provide an opportunity for INEC to examine responsible applications of AI in elections and develop strategies to counter emerging threats including deepfakes and disinformation.
The INEC chairman also appealed for the Canadian High Commission’s assistance in facilitating expedited entry visas for members of the commission’s delegation attending the conference.
Canada Reaffirms Support
Sproule reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democratic and electoral processes ahead of the 2027 general election. He said Canada remained committed to supporting countries seeking to strengthen democratic processes and ensure elections were free, fair and enjoyed the confidence and legitimacy of their citizens.
The Canadian envoy expressed particular interest in INEC’s preparations for the 2027 election and pledged continued Canadian engagement in electoral participation, women’s inclusion, public awareness, technical assistance and election observation. Sproule said Canada would continue to provide support and share relevant information and expertise that could contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s electoral processes, adding that both countries shared the objective of ensuring credible and legitimate elections.
Responding, Amupitan described Nigeria-Canada relations as a longstanding partnership anchored on mutual respect, democratic values, the rule of law and good governance. He expressed appreciation for Canada’s sustained support for electoral governance, civic education, institutional strengthening and gender inclusion in Nigeria.
Amupitan reaffirmed that INEC’s mandate remained to deliver free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive elections that accurately reflected the sovereign will of Nigerians. He assured the Canadian delegation and the international community of INEC’s “absolute independence, neutrality, and unyielding commitment to democratic integrity,” adding that international partnerships remained important to strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring that Nigeria’s electoral system continued to evolve in line with global best practices.
