The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has called on the media to help address the commission’s trust deficit with the public as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan made the appeal on Wednesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Executive Committee of the INEC Press Corps.
The meeting marked the first formal engagement between the commission’s leadership and the specialist media group since his appointment in late 2025.
The INEC Chairman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), commended journalists for their professional support but acknowledged persistent skepticism among the electorate.
He urged the media to partner with the commission in effectively communicating the transparency of the electoral process to Nigeria’s over 200 million citizens.
Chairman of the Press Corps, Segun Ojumu, who led the delegation, praised what he described as the “transparent manner” in which Amupitan has managed the commission since assuming office.
Ojumu, accompanied by Assistant Secretary John Onah and Welfare Director Chux Ukwuatu, noted that elections in Nigeria pose a “huge logistical challenge” and require collaboration among all stakeholders.
The engagement comes as INEC intensifies preparations for a series of key elections under the revised electoral roadmap following the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026.
The commission has scheduled the 2027 general elections as follows:
January 16, 2027: Presidential and National Assembly elections
February 6, 2027: Governorship and State House of Assembly elections
Ahead of the general polls, INEC will conduct off-cycle governorship elections in two southwest states, often viewed as indicators of its readiness:
Ekiti State: June 20, 2026
Osun State: August 8, 2026
Amupitan, who succeeded Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has pledged to deliver “free, fair, and inclusive” elections as Nigeria enters a critical electoral period.