INEC says credible elections cannot be guaranteed without a secure national environment, warning that threats to Nigeria’s democracy are becoming more complex ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The warning was given by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, at the second annual lecture of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies, where he said elections and security must be treated as closely connected national concerns.
Amupitan said the country has entered a critical phase following the release of the 2027 election timetable, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, and governorship polls fixed for February 6, 2027.
He said the upcoming electoral cycle faces a combination of old and emerging threats, including social media volatility, artificial intelligence-driven disinformation, foreign information manipulation, insurgency, communal conflict, and operational challenges that could affect the conduct of the polls.
According to him, a secure environment is essential for voters to exercise their rights freely and for the outcome of elections to reflect the will of the people.
He also raised concern over declining voter turnout, saying the drop from 53 per cent in 2011 to 26 per cent in 2023 reflects weakening public confidence and could deepen national instability if left unaddressed.
Amupitan said INEC would continue to rely on technology such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing Portal to protect the integrity of elections. He also called for stronger collaboration among relevant institutions through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
Earlier, the President of AANISS, Barr. Mike Ejiofor, described the lecture theme, Credible Elections and National Security in Nigeria, as timely and important.
Ejiofor said the absence of some top security officials, including the National Security Adviser and the Inspector-General of Police, was due to pressing national assignments. He, however, said their expected participation in future engagements remained important.
He said the presence of stakeholders from government, security agencies, and the electoral body showed growing recognition that flawed elections often lead to unrest, while credible polls strengthen legitimacy and national stability.
The event drew participants from the executive, legislature, judiciary, and security community. National commissioners, aides to the INEC chairman, and directors of the commission were also in attendance.
