The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, on Monday declared that the commission is under pressure to operate with “unprecedented speed and surgical precision” following the recent amendment to the Electoral Act, 2026, which has shortened the statutory notice period for elections.
Speaking at the opening of a three-day capacity-building workshop for National Electoral Commissioners and senior management staff at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, Amupitan said the commission had already adjusted its operational plans to meet the new legal timeline ahead of the 2027 general election.
The INEC chairman, who was represented by National Commissioner Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, said the Electoral Act amendment had reduced the mandatory Notice of Election period from 360 days to 300 days, thereby creating a compressed electoral calendar that requires urgent institutional preparedness.
He disclosed that, in response to the new law, the commission had released a revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general election.
According to him, the Presidential and National Assembly elections will now hold on Saturday, January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Assembly elections are scheduled for Saturday, February 6, 2027.
Amupitan described the moment as a critical phase in Nigeria’s democratic journey, noting that it was exactly 159 days since he assumed office as INEC chairman on October 23, 2025.
He said his leadership mandate was to ensure that Nigeria’s electoral system is not only sound in principle but also effective in practice.
“We meet at a watershed moment in our democratic journey,” he said. “My primary mandate, and indeed our collective burden, is to ensure that the electoral architecture of Nigeria is not just robust in theory, but strong in practice.”
The workshop, organised in collaboration with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), Nigeria, is aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity of National Electoral Commissioners and the commission’s management team, particularly in key operational areas such as procurement and strategic planning.
Amupitan stressed that INEC’s responsibilities go beyond merely conducting elections, saying the commission must continually improve its skills, systems and tools to protect the integrity, transparency and credibility of the electoral process.
“Our work is not just about conducting elections; it is about ensuring that the democratic process thrives in our great nation,” he said.
He urged participants at the three-day exercise to engage fully with the expert sessions, share experiences and adopt innovative strategies that would help the commission navigate emerging challenges ahead of the next electoral cycle.
“The strength of our Commission lies in our willingness to learn and adapt, and together, we can ensure that our elections reflect the will of the people we serve,” he added.
The INEC chairman also expressed appreciation to the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung for its technical support and partnership in facilitating the workshop, describing the collaboration as a reflection of a shared commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
The event drew National Electoral Commissioners, senior INEC officials, the Resident Representative of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Nigeria, the Acting Director-General of The Electoral Institute (TEI), technical aides to the chairman, invited experts, stakeholders and members of the media.
Amupitan concluded by calling for fruitful deliberations and renewed commitment to deepening the democratic process in Nigeria through stronger institutional capacity and better electoral management.
