*The Arewa Youth Forum, representing millions of youths across Northern Nigeria, commends Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, fir effective leadership, pledged the Forum’s full support, active collaboration ahead of the 2027 General Elections
Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect
A delegation of the Arewa Youth Forum (AYF), representing millions of youths across Northern Nigeria, has commended Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for his leadership of the Commission and the marked improvement in the conduct of recent elections.
The AYF delegation, who visited Prof. Amupitan in his office at the INEC Headquarters, Abuja, FCT, pledged the Forum’s full support and active collaboration ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
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Alhaji Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, Chairman of the Forum’s Board of Trustees, who led a high-level AYF delegation to the Commission, gave the commendation Thursday, June 25, 2026, during a courtesy visit to INEC headquarters in Abuja, FCT.
Alhaji Gujungu hailed the Commission’s growing record of transparent, peaceful and credible elections under Prof. Amupitan’s watch.
He also stated: “We stand before you today to commend the hard work of your leadership and the successes recorded in the recent elections held across the country.
“The improvement in logistics, timely deployment of materials, and adherence to election guidelines despite enormous challenges are commendable.”
The AYF BOT Chairman specifically applauded INEC’s deployment of technology, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), as a decisive step toward eliminating electoral fraud and ensuring that results reflect the true will of Nigerian voters.
Gujungu further described the Commission’s commitment to technology-driven elections as one of the most significant advances in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
Speaking on what he described as a pattern of “politically motivated attacks” on the Commission, Gujungu emphasised that the AYF conducted tours across Northern Nigeria and found that public confidence in INEC was being eroded by “orchestrated misinformation” rather than genuine operational failures.
“An independent electoral body must be judged on facts and evidence, not propaganda.
“AYF strongly rejects the politicisation of INEC, especially at this critical time in our national history,” he said.
Responding, Prof. Amupitan thanked the Forum for what he described as an exceptional show of objectivity.
The Chairman of INEC noted that positive assessments of the Commission’s work were rare in the current media environment.
He also said the AYF’s visit and public solidarity would strengthen the Commission’s resolve as it intensified preparations for the 2027 General Elections.
The INEC Chairman confirmed that Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 15 2027, while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold 6 February 2027, and called on all Nigerians to support the Commission in delivering elections that would serve as a model for Africa.
Amupitan further stated: “Nigeria has the largest democracy in Africa.
“For it to be well with Africa, Nigeria must get it right. And we are committed and determined to ensure that we face that election head on.”
The INEC Chief equally cited the recently concluded Ekiti State Governorship Election as a demonstration of the Commission’s improving standards.
He recalled that election observers noted the early arrival of INEC officials at polling units, the calm and secure atmosphere, and the seamless deployment of election materials.
The Chairman said the Commission would build on that template for subsequent elections, including the Osun State Governorship Election scheduled for August 16, 2026.
As part of the visit, the AYF formally proposed two areas of collaboration with the Commission: a grassroots voter education campaign across northern Nigeria to be conducted in partnership with INEC’s Voter Education and Publicity Department, targeting voter mobilisation, anti-vote-buying messaging, and technology literacy among the electorate; and a post-election feedback mechanism through which AYF field coordinators would collect and submit polling unit-level data on logistics, staff conduct and technology performance to the Commission after each election.
The Commission, in a bulletin Thursday, affirmed Prof. Amupitan welcomed both proposals and directed the Director of Voter Education and Publicity to immediately establish a formal liaison with the AYF to deepen the Commission’s grassroots outreach in northern Nigeria.
The AYF, which the Forum said represents between two and three million youth in northern Nigeria and the FCT, pledged to mobilise its membership to respect electoral laws, reject fake news, report criminal elements, and actively protect the integrity of the voting process in the lead-up to 2027.