Nigeria’s electoral umpire on Thursday vowed to insulate the upcoming 2026 and 2027 polls from executive pressure, insisting that neither the president nor state governors will be permitted to dictate the outcome of the ballots.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued the warning amid rising political tensions and concerns over the neutrality of the commission ahead of critical off-cycle governorship elections and the subsequent general elections.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Abuja, INEC National Commissioner Professor Sani Adams Amupitan declared that the commission is implementing a “fail-safe” architecture to block political interference.
‘No sacred cows’
”The commission is not an extension of the executive arm of government,” Amupitan told a gathering of civil society groups and political party representatives. “Whether it is at the federal level or the state level, INEC will not allow any president or governor to interfere with the 2026 and 2027 elections.”
The pledge comes as opposition parties voice fears that the proximity of state executives to electoral officials could compromise the integrity of the vote. Amupitan, however, dismissed these concerns, stating that the commission’s loyalty remains with the Nigerian electorate.
”Our mandate is derived from the Constitution and the Electoral Act. We are answerable to the people of Nigeria, not to any individual, regardless of their office,” he added.
Technological safeguards
To back its claims of independence, the commission announced it would further enhance the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to prevent human manipulation.
”We have seen the attempts to bypass our systems in the past,” Amupitan said. “For the 2026 off-cycle polls, we are deploying upgraded technology that makes it impossible for any external actor—be they a governor or a party stalwart—to alter figures once they are uploaded from the polling units.”
Security and Sovereignty
The commissioner also addressed the role of security agencies, which have frequently been accused of acting as enforcers for incumbents. He noted that INEC is working on a new memorandum of understanding with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to ensure that security personnel stick strictly to their primary duties.
”Security agents are there to protect the process, not to provide cover for the snatching of ballot boxes or the intimidation of voters,” Amupitan warned.
The 2026 elections are seen as a litmus test for the 2027 general election, with several key states, including Ekiti and Osun, expected to hold high-stakes gubernatorial contests.
While the commission’s rhetoric was welcomed by many in attendance, some observers remain skeptical. “Promises are easy to make; the true test of INEC’s independence will be seen on election day when the pressure from the ‘powers that be’ is at its peak,” said Yemi Oke, a legal analyst present at the forum.
Amupitan concluded the session by urging political parties to focus on internal democracy rather than trying to influence the umpire. “If you win fairly at the polls, INEC will declare you the winner. If you lose, no amount of executive influence will change that fact.”
