The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), on Friday warned officials of the commission that any staff member found guilty of misconduct during the 2027 general elections would face severe sanctions, while those who demonstrate diligence and professionalism would be recognised and rewarded.
Amupitan gave the warning during a working visit and interactive session with management and staff at the INEC headquarters in Minna, Niger State, as the commission intensifies preparations for the next general elections.
He reminded staff that they represent the public face of the electoral body and urged them to uphold the highest standards of integrity, impartiality and professionalism, stressing that the credibility of the 2027 elections would depend largely on their conduct.
“Note that you are our ambassadors and you cannot afford to fail. The general election is coming up on Jan. 16 for the presidential and National Assembly elections, and Feb. 6 for the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.
“The whole world, not just Nigerians, is looking up to INEC. I just returned from an African Union meeting in Egypt involving all the Electoral Management Bodies in Africa, and everyone expressed their desire to come and monitor Nigeria’s elections.
“So, the whole world is watching us. We must conduct the election in a highly professional manner,” he said.
The INEC chairman said the commission had adopted a dual approach of rewarding outstanding performance while imposing stiff penalties on officials whose actions undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
“We must learn from the lessons of past elections. There should be no compromise whatsoever. We have decided to introduce rewards for hard work, but if there is any misconduct, there will be serious consequences.
“Work hard, work selflessly, shun corruption, and let us give the Nigerian people what they truly desire,” he charged.
Amupitan said the commission was also strengthening its operational capacity through improvements in logistics, transportation and infrastructure across its offices nationwide to ensure a more efficient electoral process.
“We do not want to repeat the mistakes of the past. My goal is to ensure that we improve on our performance continuously,” he said.
The INEC chairman, who reflected on his nine months in office, said restoring public confidence in the electoral system remained one of his administration’s top priorities, noting that credible elections could only be delivered by a motivated, disciplined and incorruptible workforce.
He disclosed that the commission had begun a comprehensive review of staff welfare, describing improved remuneration and working conditions as critical to boosting morale and enhancing productivity.
“When I assumed office, I discovered that the welfare package for INEC staff was among the lowest in the country.
“To boost your morale, the commission decided to take this issue head-on. When the results begin to manifest, you will appreciate our commitment,” he assured.
According to him, INEC plays a critical role in Nigeria’s democratic development and national stability.
“We play a pivotal role in ensuring that Nigeria moves into the comity of developed nations. This can only happen if our political system is stable, and that stability depends largely on our independence and performance as an electoral body,” he said.
During the visit, Amupitan inspected the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise at a registration centre within the commission’s headquarters in Minna, where he assessed the level of preparedness and interacted with officials overseeing the exercise.
The commission has stepped up preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections will be held on February 6, 2027.
Against the backdrop of growing public demand for more transparent and credible elections, Amupitan reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to delivering a process that meets both national and international standards.
“The whole world is watching us, and we must justify the confidence reposed in the commission by conducting elections that are free, fair, credible and transparent,” he said.