RismadarVoice Reporters
September 15, 2026
The Independent National Electoral Commission has assured Nigerians that the 2027 general election will be conducted transparently and credibly, with its outcome reflecting the choice of the electorate.
INEC’s Acting Chairman, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, gave the assurance on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving the African Union Pre-Election Needs Assessment Mission at the commission’s headquarters.
The AU delegation, led by former Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, Demeke Mekonnen, is in Nigeria to assess the country’s level of preparedness for the 2027 elections and identify areas where additional support may be required.
Gumus described the mission as an opportunity for peer assessment, institutional learning and further strengthening of Nigeria’s electoral system.
She said the partnership between INEC and the African Union remained important to promoting democratic standards and credible elections across Africa.
According to her, the AU assessment should be regarded as more than a routine exercise, as it could help strengthen the commission’s institutional capacity and boost public confidence in the electoral process.
Gumus said INEC had commenced extensive operational, technological and logistical preparations for the 2027 elections to ensure that eligible Nigerians could participate effectively.
She noted that the commission had also continued to draw lessons from recent off-cycle elections conducted in Anambra, the Federal Capital Territory, Ekiti and Osun states.
The Acting Chairman identified several areas where further technical and institutional support from the AU would be useful.
They include digital training for ad hoc election officials, tackling election-related disinformation and deepfakes, strengthening the Election Monitoring and Support Centre, and improving frameworks for inclusion and gender mainstreaming.
Gumus stressed that electoral integrity was a shared responsibility involving INEC, political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, the media, development partners and the electorate.
She also reaffirmed the commission’s independence and neutrality, assuring that INEC would conduct the 2027 elections professionally and in accordance with the law.
She said under the commission led by Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, administrative decisions would be guided by the law, while technological deployments would be designed to enhance transparency.
Gumus added that the final result of the 2027 general election would ultimately reflect the sovereign will of Nigerian voters.
Speaking on the purpose of the AU mission, Mekonnen said the engagement was intended to support and assess preparations already being undertaken by INEC, identify potential gaps and risks, and explore areas for technical assistance.
He said the mission would consult with INEC and other stakeholders on voter registration and the integrity of the voters’ register, electoral technology, logistics, funding, inclusion, transparency, dispute resolution, security coordination and results management.
Mekonnen reaffirmed the African Union’s commitment to working with Nigeria to strengthen democratic governance and promote credible elections across the continent.
