INEC Sets Osun Election as Benchmark for 2027 Polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has adopted the recently concluded Osun State governorship election as a benchmark for its preparations for the 2027 general election.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Friday when he received the Chargé d’Affaires of Canada to Nigeria, David Sproule, who led a delegation from the Canadian High Commission on a courtesy visit to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Amupitan said INEC had been using recent off-cycle elections, including those in Anambra, the Federal Capital Territory and Ekiti, to test electoral reforms and improve its operations.

He, however, described the August 15 Osun governorship election as a particularly significant benchmark, citing improvements in polling-unit opening, the performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), electronic transmission of results and crisis management.

According to him, 3,556 out of the 3,763 polling units, representing 94.5 per cent, opened for accreditation and voting by 8:30 a.m.

He also noted the smooth performance of BVAS, seamless uploading of results to the IReV portal and what he described as proactive management of emerging crises.

“We view the success in Osun not as a final destination, but as the gold standard that will guide our preparations for 2027,” Amupitan said.

The INEC chairman said preparations for the 2027 general election had already commenced, noting that the statutory commencement of public campaigns and rallies began on August 19.

He added that the commission participated in the signing of the First National Peace Accord on Issue-Based Campaigns by presidential candidates on August 18 under the auspices of the National Peace Committee.

Amupitan identified five major areas of focus ahead of 2027: consolidating technological gains, deepening electoral inclusivity, strengthening institutional and technical capacity, combating misinformation and protecting electoral integrity.

He also announced plans for a nationwide mock accreditation exercise in November 2026, which he said would subject BVAS and other electoral equipment to extensive field testing.

According to him, the exercise would enable INEC to assess its preparedness and identify and resolve potential operational challenges ahead of the general election.

The commission is also scaling up its administrative capacity, with Amupitan disclosing that about 1.4 million ad-hoc personnel would be required to conduct the 2027 elections across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide.

He described the exercise as one of the largest human-resource mobilisations for a national assignment in Nigeria’s history.

On emerging technology, Amupitan announced the establishment of a dedicated artificial intelligence unit within INEC to explore responsible applications of AI in areas such as data management, voter registration and results transmission.

He said the initiative would also strengthen the commission’s ability to tackle emerging threats, including deepfakes and disinformation.

Amupitan further disclosed that INEC would participate in the Global Conference on Responsible AI and Elections, organised by the United Nations Development Programme and Elections Canada, scheduled for September 9 to 11 in Ottawa.

He said the conference would provide an opportunity for the commission to study responsible applications of AI in elections and develop strategies for addressing emerging technological threats.

The INEC chairman also appealed to the Canadian High Commission to facilitate expedited entry visas for members of the commission’s delegation attending the conference.

Responding, Sproule reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democratic and electoral processes ahead of the 2027 general election.

The Canadian envoy said his country remained committed to supporting nations seeking to strengthen democratic institutions and ensure elections are free, fair and capable of earning the confidence and legitimacy of citizens.

He expressed particular interest in INEC’s preparations for the 2027 election and pledged continued Canadian engagement in areas including electoral participation, women’s inclusion, public awareness, technical assistance and election observation.

Sproule said Canada would continue to share relevant information and provide support that could contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system.

Amupitan described Nigeria-Canada relations as a longstanding partnership built on mutual respect, democratic values, the rule of law and good governance.

He appreciated Canada’s continued support for electoral governance, civic education, institutional strengthening and gender inclusion in Nigeria.

The INEC chairman reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to delivering free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive elections that reflect the will of Nigerians.

He also assured the Canadian delegation and the international community of INEC’s independence, neutrality and commitment to democratic integrity.

Amupitan said international partnerships remained essential to strengthening democratic institutions and ensuring that Nigeria’s electoral system continued to evolve in line with global best practices.