The National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Alhaji Dr. Dantele Yusuf, has called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, to ensure that the 2027 general election is conducted in a free, fair, and credible manner. Yusuf made this call at a World Press Conference and National Stakeholders' Meeting organised by INEC in Abuja. The meeting brought together political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, election observers, development partners, the media, and other stakeholders to assess preparations for the polls.
Yusuf commended INEC for the credible conduct of the recent Osun State governorship election and urged Amupitan to maintain this level of credibility in the 2027 general election. He also reminded Amupitan that his tenure at the Commission would eventually end and that he would remain a Nigerian after leaving office. Yusuf stressed the importance of leaving a legacy of electoral integrity.
The IPAC chairman commended Amupitan for organising the stakeholders' engagement, describing it as the first of its kind. He urged the Commission to sustain regular consultations with political parties as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify. Yusuf said continuous engagement with political parties would provide an opportunity to address concerns surrounding the electoral process and strengthen stakeholders' confidence ahead of the polls.
Yusuf further called on security agencies to strengthen their preparations ahead of the elections to ensure a peaceful electoral process. He also urged INEC's ad hoc personnel to remain professional and resist attempts by desperate politicians to manipulate them or use them against the interests of the Nigerian people.
Amupitan presented an extensive update on INEC's preparations for the 2027 general election, saying the Commission had moved from planning into execution. Nine of the 14 major statutory milestones contained in the Commission's revised timetable and schedule of activities had been successfully executed. He disclosed that the three phases of Continuous Voter Registration conducted between August 2025 and July 2026 produced 10,772,421 new registrations following biometric verification.
The INEC chairman said the Register of Voters would be displayed nationwide from October 9 to 15, 2026, to enable citizens to scrutinise their details and raise claims and objections. He added that the distribution of Phase One Permanent Voter Cards to Local Government Centres would commence on Friday, October 9. Amupitan also disclosed that the Commission had acquired 57,000 additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, with further upgrades to its technological infrastructure underway.
With 100 days to the first ballot, INEC and political parties are entering a critical phase of preparations for the elections. The expectation is that the electoral commission will maintain regular engagement with political parties and ensure that all stakeholders operate within the rules as the country moves towards the 2027 general election.
Key points
- IPAC Chairman Alhaji Dr. Dantele Yusuf urges INEC to ensure free, fair, and credible 2027 general elections.
