*Photo: INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN*
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in collaboration with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), on Tuesday commenced a three-day leadership workshop in Ikeja, Lagos.
The high-level strategic gathering, themed “Strategic Opportunities and Challenges to Electoral Administration in Nigeria and Africa,” formally inaugurates the Commission’s intensive planning cycle for the 2027 General Elections.
In his opening address, the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, warmly welcomed a distinguished assembly of domestic and international stakeholders. He expressed profound appreciation for the esteemed presence of Mr. Mosotho Simon Moepya, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), marking this as the first official engagement with a fellow Electoral Management Body (EMB) chair under his leadership.
“I treasure this so much,” Professor Amupitan stated, emphasizing the diplomatic goodwill and the collective responsibility EMBs share in advancing democracy across the continent.
The Chairman also extended sincere gratitude to INEC’s core technical and development partners, whose unwavering support facilitated the critical workshop.
He specifically acknowledged Mr. Seray Jah, the IFES Regional Director for Africa and Country Director for Nigeria, for his organization’s steadfast, decades-long partnership in strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process. He also thanked Dr. Matthew Ayibakuro, the Governance Adviser for the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), for the UK’s sustained technical and financial backing. Further recognition was given to Mr. Ayuba Kolo Martin, the Governance Advisor for the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), and Mr. Rushdi Nackerdien, a distinguished international electoral facilitation expert, for their invaluable contributions to the Commission’s institutional resilience.
Professor Amupitan framed the workshop as a pivotal juncture for institutional continuity and strategic renewal within INEC. “INEC is undergoing a period of transition,” he noted, referencing recent leadership changes and retirements. “We are reminded that institutions endure not merely because of structures and systems but because of the clarity of purpose, integrity of leadership and unity of vision that guides them.” He elaborated that true continuity is dynamic, involving “faithfully carrying forward our institutional mandate while adapting to new realities and insights.”
Outlining the immediate electoral calendar, the Chairman highlighted a series of critical polls that will serve as essential precursors to the 2027 polls: the Federal Capital Territory Area Council election scheduled for February 21, 2026, a governorship election in June 2026, and another in November 2026. He described these as vital “testing grounds” designed to refine the Commission’s systems, technology, and processes under intense public and political scrutiny. “The expectations of Nigerians are for meticulous and good care for these coming elections,” he asserted, defining the public demand for an EMB that is “independent in thought and action, transparent in its processes, professional in its handling and credible in its conduct.”
A significant and urgent focus of the Chairman’s remarks was the contemporary threat posed by misinformation and the pressing imperative to rebuild public trust. He revealed concrete examples of recent disinformation campaigns, including completely fabricated viral stories alleging INEC had released the official 2027 election timetable and was recruiting 10,000 staff. “Democracy can be a shell without the lifeblood of trust,” he declared. “Today that trust is being systematically undermined by diverse sources of misinformation and disinformation… where fake news travels faster than the truth.” He positioned the leadership workshop as a direct strategic countermeasure to this toxic environment, aimed at forging a leadership cohort capable of decisive, unified, and transparent action to safeguard electoral integrity.
The event’s international partners delivered messages of solidarity and shared purpose. Mr. Seray Jah of IFES welcomed the participants, affirming that the workshop “effectively marks the early strategic phase of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.” He stressed the foundational principle that electoral credibility is “determined far more by decisions taken early in the cycle than by actions taken close to election day,” and lauded INEC’s proactive and forward-looking approach. IFES, he reaffirmed, remains fully committed to supporting the Commission throughout the complex and critical journey ahead.
Chairperson Mosotho Simon Moepya of the South African IEC shared his warm encouragement and solidarity. “We look to you to do well. We don’t look to you not to do well,” he said, reminding the gathering of Nigeria’s profound importance to Africa’s democratic trajectory. A frequent collaborator with INEC, Chairperson Moepya offered the IEC’s unwavering fellowship: “We want to accompany you on the journey. We want you to get far… and we want you to do well.”
Dr. Matthew Ayibakuro, representing the UK FCDO, reinforced the deep, two-decade-long partnership between the UK and INEC. He eloquently linked the quality of elections directly to national development, citing a compelling academic hypothesis that “the delivery of a single free and credible election could accelerate democracy and development by over a decade in most countries in Africa.” He commended the new INEC leadership and the Commission’s exceptional commitment to dedicating two full weeks to strategic planning and training, calling it “inspiring” and “reassuring” for all democracy stakeholders.
The workshop was attended by the complete core of INEC’s strategic leadership, including National Commissioners: Prof. Kunle Ajayi, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, Prof. Sunday Aja, Prof. Sani Adam, SAN, Dr. Baba Bila, Dr. Ken Ukeagu, Mr. Sam Olumekun, mni, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, and Abdulrasaq Tukur Yusuf.
Also in attendance were Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, Secretary to the Commission; Prof. Ibrahim Sani, Acting Director-General of The Electoral Institute (TEI); Mr. Akin Fagbemi, Chief of Staff to the Chairman; Professor Dimis Mailafiya, Chief Technical Adviser; and Mr. Adedayo Oketota, Chief Press Secretary, along with Directors, Deputy Directors, and other senior management staff from INEC headquarters. This gathering represents a unified command front, dedicated to achieving internal cohesion, strategic clarity, and operational excellence.