The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Josiah Amupitan, has pledged the commission’s strict neutrality in the 2027 general Elections, urging political actors to centre their campaigns on policy solutions rather than violence or personal attacks.
Amupitan gave the assurance on Tuesday during the signing of the National Peace Accord ahead of the 2027 presidential election. “INEC has no interest in who wins or loses any election. The commission does not have a candidate, nor does it favour any political platform,” he said. He called on parties and candidates to treat the campaign period as a contest of ideas. “Let the 2027 election campaign be a marketplace of ideas, not a theatre of war,” he added.
The INEC chairman emphasised that Nigerians are demanding practical answers to their challenges. “Nigerians do not want insults; they want solutions. They deserve to hear clear, concrete, and measurable manifestos,” he said. He stressed that the electorate expects political actors to present programmes that can be evaluated on their merits.
On operational readiness, Amupitan reported that preparations are advancing according to plan. The commission is expanding its logistical capacity to manage a nationwide ad hoc workforce of 1.4 million personnel across more than 176,000 polling units. “I am pleased to report that our preparations for the 2027 elections are progressing with absolute precision. We are scaling our operational logistics to manage a massive nationwide ad hoc workforce of 1.4 million personnel across over 176,000 polling units,” he said.
The remarks come as INEC seeks to build confidence in the electoral process following previous cycles marred by logistical challenges and allegations of bias. The National Peace Accord, a traditional precursor to Nigerian general elections, commits signatories to non‑violence and acceptance of credible results. Amupitan’s reiteration of neutrality and focus on issue‑based campaigning aims to set the tone for a more transparent and peaceful electoral environment.
With the 2027 polls still more than a year away, the commission’s early emphasis on logistics and neutrality signals an intent to address persistent concerns about electoral integrity. Stakeholders will be watching closely as INEC moves from planning to implementation, particularly in the recruitment, training, and deployment of the massive temporary workforce required for election day operations.
