INEC Chairman Amupitan Assures Nigerians of Neutrality Ahead of 2027 Elections, Says Commission Has No Preferred Candidate

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Josiah Amupitan, has assured Nigerians and political parties that the electoral body will remain impartial during the 2027 general elections.

Amupitan gave the assurance on Tuesday at the National Peace Accord event ahead of the 2027 presidential election, stressing that INEC’s responsibility is to conduct elections fairly without favouring any candidate or political party.

“INEC has no interest in who wins or loses any election. The commission does not have a candidate, nor does it favour any political platform,” he said.

The INEC chairman also called on political parties and candidates to make issue-based campaigns the focus of the 2027 election season, warning against turning political contests into platforms for violence, personal attacks and division.

“Let the 2027 election campaign be a marketplace of ideas, not a theatre of war,” Amupitan said.

He urged politicians to present clear plans that address the concerns of Nigerians, noting that citizens are more interested in practical solutions than political insults or empty promises.

“Nigerians do not want insults; they want solutions. They deserve to hear clear, concrete, and measurable manifestos,” he added.

Amupitan said INEC was already strengthening its preparations for the 2027 elections, with emphasis on improving logistics and ensuring the commission is ready for the demands of a nationwide exercise.

He disclosed that the commission is preparing to manage a large workforce for the election, with plans in place to coordinate about 1.4 million ad hoc personnel across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide.

“I am pleased to report that our preparations for the 2027 elections are progressing with absolute precision. We are scaling our operational logistics to manage a massive nationwide ad hoc workforce of 1.4 million personnel across over 176,000 polling units,” he said.