Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has called for greater operational discipline as the commission intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day Strategic Operational Workshop for Administrative Secretaries in Lagos on Monday, Amupitan said the officials remain central to the success of election management in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He announced the rollout of the Administrative Secretary Master Operational Tracker Template, a technology-driven platform that will provide the commission with real-time updates on the preparedness of its state offices.
According to him, the new tracker will be integrated with the Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC), allowing INEC headquarters to monitor the movement of election materials, logistics and staff training nationwide as events unfold.
The INEC chairman explained that the platform would enable the commission to anticipate and address operational challenges before they disrupt election activities, rather than responding after problems occur.
“If you tolerate shortcuts, shortcuts will multiply. If you tolerate political interference, neutrality will deteriorate… Your responsibility is to build an administrative culture capable of delivering a credible election,” Amupitan told the Administrative Secretaries.
He also cited former United States Secretary of State Colin Powell, stressing that successful elections require careful preparation, dedication and the ability to learn from previous setbacks.
Amupitan said the workshop would strengthen the commission’s capacity in voter registration and PVC distribution, election logistics, BVAS, IReV, CROMS, recruitment and training of ad-hoc personnel, as well as financial compliance ahead of the polls.
INEC said the 2027 general elections will commence on January 16, with the final voter register scheduled for publication on January 11, campaigns ending on February 18, a possible presidential run-off on February 28, and governorship and State House of Assembly elections holding on March 6, 2027.
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