The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, has stated that the commission may not be able to conduct a completely flawless election in 2027, urging Nigerians to moderate their expectations.
Amupitan made the remark while speaking at the Citizens’ Town Hall programme on the Electoral Act 2026, where he acknowledged public demand for perfect elections but noted that such standards may not yet be fully attainable.
According to him, although INEC remains committed to delivering credible polls, achieving a 100 per cent error-free electoral process remains challenging.
He, however, assured Nigerians that the commission possesses the technical capacity to electronically transmit election results, stressing that concerns mainly relate to real-time transmission rather than the system itself.
Citing experiences from the recent Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections, the INEC chairman explained that difficult terrain and communication network limitations delayed the transmission of results from Kabi ward in Kuje Area Council.
Amupitan maintained that network adequacy, rather than transmission technology, remains the major challenge confronting election result uploads across parts of the country.
He further emphasized that logistics play a decisive role in the success of elections, noting that operational failures can undermine the credibility of the entire process.
He added that some previously recorded setbacks were linked to human errors, which the commission is already working to correct.
Despite the challenges, the INEC boss expressed optimism that the 2027 general elections would represent significant improvement over previous polls.
He said increased transparency and growing public trust in both INEC and elected leaders would ultimately strengthen Nigeria’s democratic process and national development.
