2027 Elections: Amupitan urges synergy between INEC, security agencies to protect Nigerians’ will

*Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, addresses high-ranking Nigerian security officials and strategic thinkers, underscoring the inseparable link between the integrity of the ballot box and national stability

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has reaffirmed that the success of Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections will serve as the definitive litmus test for the country’s strategic security architecture.

Amupitan, who stated this Thursday, March 26, 2026, as the Chairman of the occasion at the 2nd Annual Lecture of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies (AANISS), underscored the inseparable link between the integrity of the ballot box and national stability.

Consumer Safety: Most agric produce come with pesticide contamination –Report

The Chairman said that elections and security are not parallel tracks, but are two sides of the same coin of national stability.

He equally reminded the audience of high-ranking security officials and strategic thinkers that the recently released Notice of Elections, which schedules the Presidential and National Assembly polls for January 16, 2027, is far more than a mere administrative milestone.

INEC Chair speaks on ‘sophisticated triad’ of modern threats

According to him, it is rather a “security trigger” that demands proactive coordination.

The INEC Chairman identified a “sophisticated triad” of modern threats currently facing the Commission, including AI-driven disinformation, Foreign Information Manipulation (FIMI), and social media volatility.

In order to mitigate these identified risks, however, Prof. Amupitan reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to technical safeguards, specifically the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

He also described these technologies as the ultimate defence against electoral fraud in the ecosystem.

Prof. Amupitan emphasised that security remains both the “first mile and the last mile” of election logistics.

The Chairman urged the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to transition from reactive policing to proactive intelligence coordination as the Commission prepares for the upcoming Ekiti and Osun Governorship elections later this year.

The INEC also issued a sobering warning regarding the decline in voter turnout, which plummeted to 26 percent in 2023.

He noted that such apathy creates a “narrative vacuum” that non-state actors exploit to delegitimise the government, asserting that a vote cast is a “brick laid in the wall of national security.”

The Commission disclosed the public discourse was further enriched by Barr. Mike Igini, a former two-term Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and guest lecturer, provided a sobering assessment of the operational realities on Election Day.

Drawing from his extensive field experience, Barr. Igini argued that while INEC provides the regulatory framework, the bulk of Election Day activity is executed by ad-hoc personnel, making the supervisory role of security agencies the most vital element in preventing manipulation.

Igini maintained that 70 percent of election management is rooted in public perception, and that a credible process must ensure that outcomes are determined at the Polling Units rather than in the Courts.

The former INEC REC also addressed the evolving legal landscape, describing the 2022 Electoral Act as the most progressive development in Nigeria’s history.

Yet, he lamented that its fundamental gains have been “regrettably watered down” by the provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act.

Barr. Igini urged security agencies to cultivate an enabling environment that encourages citizens to exercise their franchise without fear of intimidation.

Barr. Mike Ejiofor, President of AANISS, also echoed the sentiment, as he welcomed the “caliber of personalities” present, and described the Association as a beacon of intellectual engagement.

Barr. Ejiofor emphasised the high stakes of electoral integrity.

He also noted that while credible elections confer legitimacy, flawed processes breed discontent, instability, and violence.

The event served as a definitive call to action for all stakeholders to ensure that the 2027 General Elections is characterised by the stability it secures rather than the threats it faced, ensuring that the sovereign will of the Nigerian people remains sacrosanct.

Kindly Share This Story