The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has warned that partisan conduct, administrative negligence and ethical violations will not be tolerated among Commission staff as preparations intensify for the 2027 General Election.
Amupitan gave the warning on Monday in Kaduna while declaring open the North-West Zonal Interactive Meeting with Staff and Readiness Assessment for the 2027 General Election.
Addressing Electoral Officers, Heads of Departments and senior administrative staff from the zone, the INEC Chairman stressed that strict adherence to the Commission’s code of conduct was essential to protecting the integrity and credibility of the electoral process.
“Partisan leaning, administrative negligence, or compromised ethics will not be tolerated,” he said, adding that safeguarding INEC’s institutional integrity remained non-negotiable.
He noted that the conduct of electoral officials at polling units could significantly influence public confidence in elections, warning that late opening of polling units, perceived bias, nonchalance and poor communication over technical challenges could fuel voter apathy and disinformation.
According to him, the competence, conduct and character of field officials could either strengthen the Commission’s defence against misinformation or undermine public trust.
Amupitan reminded staff of their obligation to uphold neutrality under Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2026, stressing that electoral officials must administer elections without favouring any candidate or political party.
“The question must never be ‘Who will benefit from this decision?’ but always ‘What does the law require me to do?’” he said.
He also cautioned against informal procedures and administrative shortcuts, directing officials to comply strictly with the Electoral Act 2026, the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2026, and relevant guidelines for political parties.
He urged staff to escalate operational challenges through established institutional channels rather than resorting to unauthorised improvisation.
The INEC Chairman emphasised that legal frameworks and modern technology alone could not guarantee credible elections without faithful implementation by officials.
“To the voter in a local ward, INEC is not the Chairman in Abuja; INEC is you,” he said, urging staff to know the law, understand their responsibilities, remain neutral and properly document their actions.
Amupitan explained that the Kaduna engagement was the second in a six-zone nationwide interactive meeting and readiness assessment tour ahead of the 2027 General Election, following the meeting in Lagos.
He said his decision to personally engage staff across the geopolitical zones, accompanied by National Commissioners and directors, reflected the Commission’s recognition that electoral success depended largely on effective operations at the grassroots.
Reflecting on recent off-cycle elections, particularly the Osun State governorship election, he commended INEC staff for their contributions but warned that previous achievements had raised public expectations ahead of the nationwide polls.
He noted that the 2027 General Election would present a significantly broader operational task, involving simultaneous electoral activities across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, February 6, 2027.
INEC Announces Welfare Measures, PVC Collection Plans
On staff welfare, Amupitan reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to improving the welfare and security of its personnel.
He disclosed that INEC had established the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (CEMBSS), effective January 1, 2026, moving its workforce out of the regular Civil Service salary structure.
He also announced that overhead allocations to state offices had been increased by 150 per cent from July 1, 2026.
The INEC Chairman further disclosed that the Commission had commenced the procurement and distribution of new operational pickup vehicles to state offices and local government areas nationwide to improve staff mobility, security and operational efficiency.
Earlier, the Supervising National Commissioner for Kaduna, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, described the meeting as an opportunity to strengthen electoral administration and prepare staff to deliver credible elections in 2027.
Haruna, who said the Kaduna meeting followed the Lagos engagement in the six-zone tour, expressed confidence that the exercise would help the Commission identify operational gaps and improve its readiness for the polls.
He also disclosed that the collection of newly printed Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) was expected to commence early next month, appealing to traditional rulers to encourage eligible citizens to collect their cards and exercise their constitutional right to vote.
In her remarks, the Director of Planning and Monitoring, Helen Ajayi, said the zonal meetings were designed to assess the preparedness of states, identify operational challenges and ensure that staff across the zone remained aligned with the Commission’s code of conduct ahead of the 2027 General Election.
