The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has told Nigerians that while the commission is ready to transmit election results electronically in 2027, it cannot promise a completely error-free election.
He spoke during a live Citizens’ Town Hall programme focused on the Electoral Act 2026 and its impact on the 2027 polls.
The event was broadcast on major television stations and featured political party leaders, civil society representatives and other public figures. During the discussion, Amupitan urged citizens to be realistic in their expectations.
He said the commission would work hard to deliver credible elections but no electoral body can guarantee total perfection.
On the issue of electronic transmission of results, which generated debate after the 2023 elections, the INEC chairman said the commission has the ability to transmit results.
He explained that the main concern in the past was how to define and achieve real-time transmission, especially in remote areas with poor network coverage.
He cited the recent Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections as an example. According to him, results from five area councils were received without delay, but one ward in Kuje experienced difficulties.
The ward was several hours away by road, with bad terrain. Officials sent to the area could not be reached by phone for a period of time.
The results were eventually brought physically to the collation centre before final declaration. He noted that network strength and logistics remain major factors in timely transmission.
Amupitan also linked the success of elections to planning and logistics. He admitted that there were some operational lapses in recent polls, including human errors, but said steps are being taken to correct them before 2027.
He expressed confidence that voter awareness is increasing and that the next general election will show improvement.
In addition to election preparations, INEC has begun reviewing its regulations and guidelines for political parties.
The commission said this move is part of efforts to align its rules with the Electoral Act 2026. A technical workshop in Abuja is examining the existing 2022 regulations to update them in line with new legal provisions.
INEC stated that the new law brings changes to party administration, candidate nomination, compliance duties and dispute resolution.
The review aims to improve oversight of political parties, reduce internal conflicts and cut down on court cases before elections.
The commission is also studying past elections to address issues such as unclear party primaries, membership disputes and poor financial reporting.
The commission plans to produce a revised set of regulations after consultations with political parties through the Inter-Party Advisory Council.
It said early adjustments would help avoid confusion and disputes ahead of the 2027 elections.
Meanwhile, political parties have started updating their membership records to meet the new law. The Peoples Democratic Party has launched a nationwide digital membership registration exercise, which began on March 2, 2026, and will last for three weeks.
The party said the exercise is to comply with the requirement to submit a digital register of members to INEC.
The African Democratic Congress has also opened an online platform for membership registration and asked existing members to revalidate their details.
The party said only members properly captured in its digital register will take part in its primaries. The ruling All Progressives Congress is also considering reopening its electronic registration portal to allow more members to sign up.
INEC had earlier fixed dates for the 2027 elections, but after concerns about a clash with the Ramadan period, the National Assembly amended the notice period in the law.
Following this change, the commission revised the timetable. The Presidential and National Assembly elections are now scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.
Under the new timetable, all political parties must submit their digital membership registers by April 2, 2026. INEC said it remains committed to improving the electoral process and building public trust in Nigeria’s democracy.