INEC Moves to Strengthen Operations Ahead of 2027 General Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed its Administrative Secretaries across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to strengthen coordination, eliminate administrative gaps and ensure effective election delivery ahead of the 2027 General Election.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, gave the directive on Monday, September 7, 2026, in Lagos while opening a two-day Strategic Operational Workshop for Administrative Secretaries.

Amupitan described the workshop as an election-focused “operational boot camp” aimed at testing the Commission’s preparedness for the 2027 polls. He said INEC could no longer afford different interpretations of administrative responsibilities or inconsistent operational practices across the country.

“We can no longer afford fragmented interpretations of administrative duties or disjointed operational practices from state to state,”

The INEC Chairman said lessons from recent off-cycle elections, particularly the Osun State Governorship Election, would be used to develop operational standards for the nationwide 2027 election.

He noted that timely logistics, functional technology and administrative discipline were key to achieving transparent and credible elections, stressing the need to replicate successful models across all states and the FCT.

Amupitan described Administrative Secretaries as the Commission’s key technical, operational and administrative anchors at the state level, responsible for ensuring continuity and managing the daily operations of INEC offices.

Earlier, the Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Ayobami Salami, urged participants to use the workshop to identify institutional gaps and develop practical solutions ahead of the 2027 elections.

Salami stressed the importance of effective coordination of personnel, resources, logistics, finance and infrastructure, while calling for stronger collaboration between administrative and technical functions and improved accountability across the Commission.