RismadarVoice Reporters
August 18, 2026
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a free, fair, credible and transparent 2027 General Election, as it deepens engagement with the International Republican Institute, IRI.
The Commission received a delegation from the IRI, led by its President, Dr Dan Twining, in Abuja as part of a Pre-Election Assessment Mission to evaluate Nigeria’s level of preparedness for the 2027 polls and identify areas for technical and international support.
The delegation is in Nigeria from August 11 to 21, 2026.
Speaking during the engagement, INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, described the visit as timely, coming shortly after the successful conduct of the Osun State governorship election and ahead of the commencement of campaigns for the 2027 elections.
Professor Amupitan said the Commission had used recent off-cycle elections and legislative by-elections to test and improve its electoral technology, logistics and security coordination.
He disclosed that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, and the INEC Result Viewing Portal, IReV, had continued to record high operational reliability, with result-upload rates exceeding 98 per cent in recent elections.
The INEC Chairman said the Commission was preparing for one of the largest electoral operations in the country’s history, with plans to deploy about 1.4 million ad hoc personnel across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide.
He added that INEC was strengthening logistics, expanding early deployment strategies and improving collaboration with transport unions to ensure the timely movement of election personnel and materials.
On voter registration, Professor Amupitan said the Commission was introducing measures to improve online registration and continuous updating of the voters’ register, while strengthening mechanisms to ensure its accuracy.
He also pledged greater inclusivity for persons with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers and elderly voters.
The Commission identified misinformation, disinformation and the misuse of artificial intelligence as emerging threats to electoral integrity ahead of the 2027 polls.
Professor Amupitan said INEC had established an AI-focused unit to develop protocols for responsible use of artificial intelligence and tackle false information capable of undermining public confidence in elections.
He reiterated the Commission’s neutrality, stressing that INEC had no preference for any political party or candidate and was solely committed to conducting elections that reflect the will of Nigerians.
On his part, IRI President, Dr Dan Twining, said the institute was committed to supporting a competitive, peaceful and credible electoral process in Nigeria.
He said the delegation would assess INEC’s preparations, identify potential challenges and explore areas where the international community could contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process.
Twining stressed that the institute recognised Nigerians’ commitment to exercising their democratic rights and expressed optimism about supporting efforts to ensure a credible and peaceful 2027 election.
