*Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, warns that anyone who attempts to threaten, intimidate or harm ad-hoc staff, Youth Corps members or permanent personnel of the Commission will be hunted down, and brought to justice under the full weight of the law
Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect
Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has announced a shift from reactive, election-day deployments to an intelligence-led security framework designed to protect voters, personnel and electoral materials ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
Amupitan disclosed this Tuesday, October 27, 2026, in Gombe, while declaring open the North-East Zonal Interactive Meeting with Staff and Readiness Assessment for the 2027 General Elections.
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The Chairman of INEC said the Commission’s collaboration with the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Armed Forces, and other paramilitary agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) had been fundamentally restructured.
He also disclosed the new framework, which the Commission terms the “ICCES Tentacle,” extends inter-agency security coordination from national and state headquarters directly down to the most remote Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Registration Area Centres.
Amupitan told the gathering that no election, regardless of how well planned administratively, could be deemed credible if voters, election personnel and observers operate under physical threat or fear of violence.
The INEC Chief explained how the framework rests on three pillars, the first being “Map and Mitigate.”
Under this pillar, the Commission will use Electoral Risk Management (ERM) tools to identify security flashpoints, seasonal threat factors and local vulnerabilities early.
This, he said, would allow security agencies to deploy proactive measures long before ballot papers arrive.
The second pillar, “Ensure Safety,” provides a protective umbrella over all electoral personnel, technological assets, including Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices and server infrastructure, and, most importantly, the voter.
The third pillar, “Guarantee Access,” is aimed at ensuring that each of the 176,846 polling units nationwide remains a safe, peaceful and dignified space for the exercise of democratic rights, regardless of geographical remoteness or historical security challenges.
Prof. Amupitan said the collaboration among security agencies had already produced concrete results.
He disclosed that joint operations led by the DSS recently uncovered a covert plot by criminal kingpins targeting the Commission’s ad-hoc staff and Youth Corps members.
He noted that swift, intelligence-led intervention neutralised the threat, and that the principal orchestrators were arrested, and are currently undergoing prosecution.
Amupitan further said: “Let me send a clear message from Gombe.”
He warned that anyone who attempts to threaten, intimidate or harm ad-hoc staff, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members or permanent personnel of the Commission would be hunted down and brought to justice under the full weight of the law.
He further disclosed that the Commission would shortly convene a National Election Security Conference in Abuja, where state-specific security protocols for high-risk zones would be finalised.
Prof. Amupitan acknowledged that the North-East presents distinct operational challenges, including vast desert terrains, riverine stretches along the Benue trough, remote agrarian communities and expansive landmasses.
The Chairman noted, however, that the zone had demonstrated remarkable resilience and civic determination.
The zone has 13,965,475 registered voters, representing 13.51 percent of the national register of over 103 million.
Bauchi State has the highest number with 3,012,547 voters, followed by Borno with 2,765,165, Adamawa with 2,431,146, Taraba with 2,254,380, Gombe with 1,768,566 and Yobe with 1,733,671.
The Chairman said the 2027 General Elections would be a simultaneous national undertaking across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Presidential and National Assembly Elections are scheduled for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections will hold Saturday, February 6 next year.
He, therefore, assured staff and stakeholders across the North-East that INEC was not working in isolation, describing security as “the bedrock of electoral integrity.”
He added: “Insecurity may pose a challenge, but our collective constitutional resolve is far stronger.”
Earlier in his welcome remarks, Alhaji Umar Muktar Gajiram, host Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Gombe State, on behalf of all North-East RECs, warmly welcomed the Honourable Chairman, National Commissioners, and Electoral Officers from Bauchi, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe and Yobe.
Alhdji Gajiram described the Chairman’s visit to Gombe as historic, timely and a huge morale booster for staff who are at the frontline of constitutional democracy. He noted that Gombe as the geographical centre of the North-East with 1,768,566 voters, 11 LGAs and 3,311 polling units is strategically positioned for the engagement.
He assured the Chairman that the North-East zone is fully prepared, loyal and committed to ensuring that not a single voter out of the 13.96 million in the zone is disenfranchised, and that all directives on voter register display, logistics audit and technological testing will be executed to the letter.