2027: INEC Has No Candidate, Favours No Party — Amupitan

ABUJA — The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has assured Nigerians and political parties that the electoral body has no preferred candidate or political party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Amupitan said INEC’s allegiance remained with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the freely expressed will of Nigerian voters, insisting that the commission would remain independent, neutral and impartial in the discharge of its responsibilities.

The INEC chairman made the declaration while addressing a seminar on the role of Armed Forces personnel in conducting free, fair and credible elections, with particular focus on the 2027 general elections.

Represented at the event by the commission’s Director of Legal Services, Mr Al-Hassan Umar, SAN, Amupitan stressed that electoral credibility could not be achieved by INEC alone, but required professionalism and constitutional fidelity from every institution involved in the electoral process.

“The Commission has no candidate in any election. Our allegiance is solely to the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the freely expressed will of the Nigerian people,” he said.

INEC Warns Security Agencies Against Partisanship

The electoral chief also charged military personnel deployed for election duties to maintain strict political neutrality and treat all candidates and political parties equally.

According to him, the Armed Forces serve the Nigerian state and the Constitution and must not be seen as working for any political party, candidate or individual.

Amupitan said every interaction between security personnel and citizens during elections should reflect professionalism, discipline, restraint and respect for fundamental rights.

He maintained that the credibility of the 2027 elections would depend not only on INEC’s ability to administer the polls but also on the conduct of security agencies, political parties, candidates, voters and other stakeholders.

Five Priorities For Credible 2027 Elections

The INEC chairman identified sustained collaboration among election security stakeholders, intensified election-specific training, intelligence-driven security operations, strict compliance with security rules of engagement, and professionalism, transparency and accountability as key requirements for credible elections.

He said election security must be proactive rather than reactive, with security agencies relying on intelligence gathering, inter-agency coordination, strategic communication and timely deployment of personnel and resources.

Amupitan noted that Nigeria’s security environment had continued to evolve, with challenges including insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, organised political violence, cyber threats, misinformation and attacks on critical infrastructure.

He therefore called for stronger coordination among security agencies to ensure that these threats do not undermine the electoral process.

INEC, Security Agencies To Strengthen Cooperation

Amupitan said INEC would continue working with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to assess threats, develop operational plans and respond to emerging risks before and during elections.

He also highlighted the role of the Armed Forces in providing logistical support for elections, particularly in transporting sensitive electoral materials to areas that are difficult to access by road.

The chairman noted that the Nigerian Air Force had played an important role in moving electoral materials to hard-to-reach communities, helping to ensure that geographical barriers do not disenfranchise eligible voters.

Military Pledges Neutrality

Also speaking at the seminar, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, represented by Rear Admiral Abolade Ogunleye, said the Armed Forces would continue to operate within the limits of the Constitution while supporting civil authorities when required.

Oluyede stressed the importance of professionalism, neutrality and respect for human rights by military personnel deployed for election-related duties.

He said lessons from recent off-cycle governorship elections and bye-elections would help security agencies strengthen inter-agency coordination and improve operational preparedness for the 2027 elections.

The Defence Chief said the success of election security operations should not be measured solely by the absence of violence but also by adherence to impartiality, neutrality and respect for citizens’ rights.

INEC Faces Growing Scrutiny Ahead Of 2027

Amupitan’s declaration comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with major political parties already positioning themselves for the forthcoming contests.

His assurance of neutrality is expected to be closely watched by political parties, candidates and civil society groups as preparations for the elections gather momentum.

INEC has repeatedly maintained that its responsibility is to provide a level playing field and ensure that the outcome of elections reflects the will of voters.

The commission’s position is that political parties and candidates must compete for votes while INEC provides the institutional framework for voters to freely make their choices.

With concerns over election security, vote-buying, misinformation and political violence continuing to dominate national discussions, the commission is expected to rely heavily on cooperation with security agencies and other stakeholders to safeguard the 2027 electoral process.

Amupitan’s message was therefore clear: INEC will not enter the political contest as a participant, but as the institution responsible for administering the election and protecting the integrity of the ballot.