The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned its staff against partisan conduct, administrative negligence, and ethical breaches ahead of the 2027 general elections. INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, gave the warning on Monday in Kaduna at the North-West Zonal Interactive Meeting with Staff and Readiness Assessment for the 2027 General Election. Amupitan told Electoral Officers, Heads of Departments, and senior administrative staff from the zone that the Commission would strictly enforce its code of conduct.
Amupitan emphasized that the conduct, competence, and character of its field staff could either strengthen INEC's defence against misinformation or undermine public confidence in the electoral process. He stated that partisan leaning, administrative negligence, or compromised ethics would not be tolerated, and every officer must understand that protecting INEC's institutional integrity is non-negotiable. The INEC chairman urged staff to identify and address operational challenges before election day, stressing that the true success of any election is not decided solely in the meeting rooms of the headquarters in Abuja but in the field.
The INEC chairman disclosed that the three phases of the recent Continuous Voter Registration exercise produced 10,772,421 new registrations, subject to verification. He called for the removal of bottlenecks in PVC distribution at the local government level to ensure that eligible voters are not disenfranchised. Amupitan also announced that nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will begin on October 9 for newly registered voters and those who are yet to collect their cards.
Amupitan reminded the officials of the oath of loyalty and neutrality that Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2026 requires of all electoral officials and security personnel taking part in an election. He stressed that a good legal framework and modern technology could not by themselves guarantee electoral credibility, adding that the credibility of an election depends on how faithfully the law is implemented by the officials entrusted with its administration.
The INEC chairman described the officials as the face of the Commission in their communities, saying that to the voter in a local ward, INEC is not the Chairman in Abuja but the officials themselves. He urged the officials to know the law, understand their responsibility, remain neutral, document their actions, and ensure that every administrative decision withstands public scrutiny and judicial review.
Mohammed Haruna, Supervising National Commissioner for Kaduna, said the Kaduna meeting was the second in the six-zone tour after Lagos, and was designed to rally staff to deliver the best election in Nigeria's history. Haruna disclosed that collection of new Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the general elections would commence early October as scheduled and appealed to traditional rulers to encourage eligible citizens to collect their cards and exercise their constitutional right to vote.
The Commission is also reviewing its technological systems for voter verification, result transmission, and result management as part of preparations for the 2027 elections. INEC has commenced the procurement and distribution of new operational pick-up vehicles, which are being dispatched to State Offices and Local Government Areas nationwide to boost the mobility, security, and operational efficiency of staff.
Key points
- INEC warns staff against partisan conduct, negligence ahead of 2027 elections
- Nationwide collection of PVCs to begin on October 9
- INEC reviews technological systems for voter verification, result transmission, and result management
