The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has assured Nigerians that every valid vote cast in the 2027 general elections will count, pledging that the electoral body will conduct credible polls that truly reflect the will of the people.
Amupitan said the commission would remain independent and resist every form of pressure that could undermine the integrity of the electoral process, despite growing public scrutiny over its leadership.
The INEC chairman gave the assurance on Friday during a courtesy visit to former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), at his residence in Minna, the Niger State capital.
Speaking during the visit, Amupitan said the commission understood the importance of restoring and strengthening public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the next general elections.
According to him, INEC remains committed to ensuring that the outcome of every election reflects the genuine choice of Nigerians.
“The Commission’s determination under my leadership is to see ordinary Nigerians go out and vote, confident that their votes will be duly counted and reflected in the outcome of elections. That is the core assurance INEC owes the electorate,” he said.
He further assured Nigerians that the commission would not allow political pressure, intimidation or external influence to interfere with its constitutional responsibility.
According to him, no amount of pressure would stop INEC from conducting free, fair and credible elections.
He stressed that the commission would continue to operate within the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act and its established regulations.
Amupitan also reaffirmed the timetable for the 2027 general elections, saying preparations were already on course.
He announced that the presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections would take place on February 6, 2027.
The INEC chairman was accompanied on the visit by National Commissioners, the Secretary to the Commission, directors and technical aides.
He described Abdulsalami as one of the architects of Nigeria’s democracy, noting that the former military ruler played a historic role by overseeing the country’s transition from military rule to civilian government in 1999.
According to Amupitan, that transition laid the foundation for Nigeria’s current democratic system.
He also praised Abdulsalami’s leadership of the National Peace Committee, describing its work as vital to the country’s electoral process.
The committee has, over the years, brought together political parties and candidates to sign Peace Accords before major elections, committing themselves to peaceful campaigns and the acceptance of credible election outcomes.
Amupitan said the committee’s efforts had helped reduce political tension and discourage electoral violence in different parts of the country.
Describing the visit as “a pilgrimage of appreciation,” he congratulated Abdulsalami on his recent 84th birthday and commended his contributions to democracy, peace and national unity.
The INEC chairman’s reassurance comes at a time when the electoral commission is facing increasing public attention ahead of the 2027 elections.
Since Amupitan assumed office, the commission has come under criticism from opposition political parties and several civil society organisations, which have called on INEC to take additional steps to strengthen public trust in its independence and impartiality.
The debate intensified earlier this year after alleged old social media posts linked to Amupitan resurfaced online.
Critics claimed the posts suggested sympathy for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) before his appointment as INEC chairman.
The controversy sparked calls from some opposition politicians for his resignation, arguing that the allegations had raised concerns about the commission’s neutrality.
INEC, however, rejected the allegations.
The commission maintained that Amupitan neither owned nor operated the social media account in question and dismissed the claims as false.
The electoral body insisted that its chairman remained committed to impartiality and that the commission would continue to discharge its constitutional responsibilities without bias.
Apart from the controversy surrounding the alleged social media posts, INEC has also faced criticism over some of its administrative decisions in the build-up to the 2027 elections.
Some opposition parties have questioned the commission’s handling of disputes involving the leadership of political parties and other regulatory decisions, alleging that some actions appeared to favour the ruling party.
The commission has repeatedly denied the allegations.
INEC has maintained that every decision it takes is based strictly on the Constitution, the Electoral Act and other applicable regulations.
The commission insists that it does not favour any political party or candidate and remains committed to conducting transparent elections.
Nigeria’s 2023 general elections generated widespread debate over the conduct of the polls, particularly the electronic transmission of results and the performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
While INEC defended the conduct of the elections, opposition parties challenged the presidential election results up to the Supreme Court, raising concerns about electoral transparency and public confidence.
Against that background, Amupitan’s latest assurance is expected to be closely watched by political parties, election observers and millions of Nigerians who are looking forward to credible elections in 2027.
Responding to the INEC chairman’s remarks, Abdulsalami urged Nigerians to support the electoral commission in carrying out its constitutional mandate.
The former Head of State said successful elections require the cooperation of political parties, candidates, security agencies, civil society organisations, the media and the electorate.
He stressed that peaceful elections are essential to Nigeria’s democratic growth and national stability.
Abdulsalami also encouraged Nigerians to continue embracing dialogue, tolerance and peaceful political participation as the country prepares for another electoral cycle.
With about 18 months to the 2027 general elections, preparations are gradually gathering momentum, while expectations remain high that INEC will deliver a process that is transparent, peaceful and widely accepted.