Former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC), Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain impartial and ensure fairness to all political parties ahead of the Osun governorship election and the 2027 general elections.
Abdulsalami made the appeal on Friday while receiving the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), and members of the commission’s management team during a courtesy visit to his residence in Minna, Niger State.
The delegation also visited former Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), the same day.
Expressing confidence in the electoral commission, Abdulsalami described the office of the INEC Chairman as one of the most demanding in Nigeria’s democratic system, noting that political actors often accuse the commission of bias whenever election results do not favour them.
“You must do justice to all and sundry. All political parties are yours; you do not have any political party to call your own,” he said.
He advised the INEC leadership to remain focused on its constitutional mandate, ignore undue political pressure, and uphold the oath of office.
“No matter what you do, political parties will accuse you of wrongdoing. That is the nature of our politics. But our democracy depends on your ability to remain fair and impartial,” he added.
The former Head of State reaffirmed the National Peace Committee’s commitment to peaceful elections, disclosing that the committee would hold a strategic meeting in Abuja on July 29 ahead of the signing of the Osun Governorship Peace Accord on July 30. He described the Osun poll as an important test for the 2027 general elections.
Earlier, Amupitan assured Nigerians that INEC remained committed to conducting free, fair and credible elections, stressing that every valid vote would count.
He said the visit was to appreciate the elder statesmen for their continued support for democracy and peacebuilding and to seek their prayers ahead of the Osun governorship election and the 2027 general elections.
The INEC chairman commended Abdulsalami’s leadership of the National Peace Committee, saying its Peace Accord initiative had helped promote peaceful political participation and strengthen democratic values.
Amupitan confirmed that the Osun governorship election would hold on August 15, with the Peace Accord signing scheduled for July 30 in Osogbo. He also reiterated that the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections would take place on January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections would be held on February 6, 2027.
He acknowledged operational challenges facing the commission, particularly last-minute court orders affecting candidate lists, which sometimes force INEC to reprint ballot papers.
Despite the challenges, he said the commission remained committed to conducting inclusive, transparent elections supported by technology.
Amupitan also urged eligible Nigerians to participate in the electoral process, reminding prospective voters that the third phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise closes on July 26.
