INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan lists 3 major challenges ahead of 2027 polls

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), has identified three major challenges that must be addressed to ensure credible elections in 2027, which includes, poor communication infrastructure, pervasive voter apathy, and the corrosive effects of misinformation/low civic engagement.
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Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting organized by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room in Abuja, Prof. Amupitan stressed that while electoral technology has been transformative, it is not a total cure for Nigeria’s democratic hurdles.
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‎Prof. Amupitan categorized the challenges facing the Commission as both technical and systemic. He stated that the weak telecommunications network across the country, particularly in remote areas, constitutes INEC’s toughest battle. ‎According to the chairman, it hinders the effective, real-time function of the BVAS and IReV in all over 176,000 Polling Units nationwide.
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He also stressed how low voters turnout threatens the credibility of elections. The 2023 general election recorded a turnout of only 26.71%, the lowest in the Fourth Republic. 
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The chairman also mentioned that misinformation and low civic engagement, rigging, vote-buying, and violence undermine citizens’ choices and the legitimacy of elected officials.
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The Chairman stressed on the role of technology in reforming the electoral landscape. According to the INEC, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has fundamentally redefined elections by ensuring that only properly accredited voters cast ballots, thereby eliminating over-voting and manual manipulations.
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The INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) disseminates the electoral process to the world, providing real-time transparency and building public trust.
‎However, the chairman emphasized that technology is not a panacea, stating that credible elections require collective commitment from all stakeholders, including political parties, civil society, the media, security agencies, and voters.
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