The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the United Nations have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration towards ensuring peaceful and credible general elections in Nigeria in 2027.
The commitment was made when the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mr. Leonardo Santos Simão, led a delegation on a courtesy visit to INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, at the Commission’s headquarters.
Simão said the visit was aimed at demonstrating the United Nations’ support for INEC as it prepares for the 2027 elections, noting that the Commission faces enormous responsibilities amid terrorism and other security challenges.
He stressed that elections should not become a source of violence and instability but should promote peace, democratic stability and national development.
“We are here, pleased to give you moral support, that you are not alone in facing this mammoth task,” he said.
The UN representative assured that the organisation would maintain a presence during the elections to encourage positive conduct and promote peaceful participation, clarifying that it would not serve as an election observer, as it had no mandate to undertake such activities.
He added that peaceful and successful elections in Nigeria would have positive implications for other countries in West Africa and contribute to regional stability and integration.
Responding, INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, appreciated the United Nations for its interest in Nigeria’s electoral preparations and willingness to support the Commission.
Amupitan reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to delivering credible elections through efficient logistics, transparent result management and timely declaration of results.
He said the Commission’s priority was to restore public confidence in the electoral process, strengthen operational efficiency and protect the integrity of every vote.
The INEC Chairman disclosed that the Commission had registered approximately 103 million voters, with young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 34 accounting for nearly 29 per cent of the electorate.
He explained that INEC was conducting a comprehensive review of the voter register through the claims and objections process, with the final register scheduled for publication on December 15, 2026.
According to him, technology-enabled verification had also helped identify approximately 1.5 million registrations with irregularities for removal from the register.
He added that the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) was ongoing across the country.
On technological preparations, Amupitan said the Commission would strengthen the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for voter accreditation and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) for public access to polling-unit results.
He identified misinformation, disinformation and foreign information manipulation as major threats to electoral integrity, warning that the growing misuse of artificial intelligence and coordinated online campaigns could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
He called for stronger collaboration with the United Nations to promote information integrity, counter electoral disinformation and strengthen public awareness.
Amupitan also highlighted other areas of potential cooperation, including conflict prevention, election security, early-warning mechanisms, stakeholder dialogue, peacebuilding and the protection of vulnerable groups, particularly women, youths and persons with disabilities.
He further disclosed that INEC was planning a mock accreditation and election exercise to test its electoral technologies ahead of the 2027 polls, identify possible challenges and boost public confidence.
The Chairman added that the Commission was working with relevant security agencies to identify areas vulnerable to electoral violence and other security threats, with a view to developing appropriate preventive measures.
