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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has admitted that beyond logistical and technical hurdles, lingering trust deficit, widespread voter apathy, remain the greatest battle the commission must overcome ahead of next year’s general elections.
The electoral umpire boss also listed the challenge of defeating the rising tide of misinformation and disinformation.as another teething challenge confronting the commission.
He made the admittance in his remarks at the North West Zonal Interactive meeting with staff on the readiness assessment for the 2027 general elections on Monday.
He said that though the performance of the commission in the Osun State off-cycle governorship election demonstrated what it is truly capable of when operational discipline, technical competence, and administrative integrity converge, the praise of yesterday raises the expectations of tomorrow.
He revealed that as part of the arrangements to perfect the determination to deliver a free, fair and credible election, the commission has started distribution of official vehicles to the Local Government Area offices.
According to him; “the performance of the commission in the Osun State off-cycle governorship election demonstrates what it is truly capable of when operational discipline, technical competence, and administrative integrity converge.
“The public praise we received from that exercise belongs to you—the men and women in this room and your colleagues across the states who stayed up through the night, protected the integrity of the ballot, and ensured that the vote of the citizen counted.
“However, success is a demanding master. The praise of yesterday raises the expectations of tomorrow. Osun was a single-state exercise; 2027 will be a simultaneous national assignment across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“If Osun showed Nigerians what we can do, 2027 must prove to the world that excellence is our permanent culture, not an occasional coincidence. We must also be entirely honest with ourselves about the complex environment in which we operate.
“Beyond the logistical and technical hurdles, our greatest battle lies in overcoming a lingering trust deficit, confronting widespread voter apathy, and defeating the rising tide of misinformation and disinformation. Today, a single malicious fake news post or deepfake can travel across millions of screens in seconds.
“But let me be clear: false narratives only gain traction when our administrative execution falters. When a polling unit opens late, when an officer displays nonchalance or perceived bias, or when technical glitches are met with silence, we inadvertently validate the cynics, deepen voter apathy, and fuel disinformation.
“The conduct, competence, and character of our staff in the field are either our strongest defense against fake news, or its biggest catalyst,” he said.
On the distribution of vehicle, he revealed: “Crucially, as part of our concrete commitment to solving field logistics, I am pleased to announce that the Commission has commenced the procurement and distribution of brand new operational pick-up vehicles, which are currently being dispatched to State Offices and LGA ls nationwide. This fleet deployment will significantly boost the mobility, security, and operational efficiency of our staff across all terrains.”
He also gave promise to the staff, stressing: “I assure you of my full support and the commission’s commitment to prioritising your welfare and security. We are at an advanced stage of implementing a new salary and welfare package for INEC Staff, Commission Members, and RECs.”
