Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), has urged staff of the commission to uphold professionalism and integrity, warning that they cannot afford to fail Nigerians in the conduct of the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan gave the charge on Friday during an official working visit and interactive session with management and staff at the INEC office in Minna, Niger State.
He cautioned staff against any form of compromise, stressing that both Nigerians and the international community would closely monitor the country’s electoral process.
“You are our ambassadors and you cannot afford to fail. The presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027,” he said.
According to him, interest in Nigeria’s elections extends beyond its borders.
“I recently attended an African Union meeting in Egypt with Electoral Management Bodies across Africa, and many expressed their intention to observe Nigeria’s elections. The whole world is watching us, and we must conduct the elections in a highly professional manner,” he added.
The INEC chairman said the commission was strengthening logistics, infrastructure and transportation across state offices to ensure improved election management.
“We do not want to repeat the mistakes of the past. Our goal is to continue improving our performance,” he said.
Reflecting on his nine months in office, Amupitan reiterated his commitment to restoring public confidence in the commission through the conduct of free, fair, transparent and credible elections.
He said the success of that objective depended largely on the dedication and integrity of INEC personnel nationwide.
Amupitan announced that the commission would reward diligence and outstanding performance while imposing strict sanctions for misconduct.
“There should be no compromise whatsoever. Hard work will be rewarded, but misconduct will attract serious consequences. Work selflessly, shun corruption and give Nigerians the elections they deserve,” he said.
On staff welfare, the INEC chairman disclosed that the commission had begun reviewing employees’ welfare packages nationwide to improve morale and productivity.
He noted that staff welfare was one of the key issues he identified after assuming office.
“We play a vital role in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
When I assumed office, I found that INEC’s welfare package was among the lowest in the country. We have taken steps to address that, and staff will soon begin to see the results,” he said.
During the visit, Amupitan also inspected the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise at a registration centre within the commission’s state headquarters.
