The Independent National Electoral Commission has warned its Administrative Secretaries across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to avoid operational mistakes as preparations intensify for the 2027 general election.
The INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, gave the warning on Monday, September 7, 2026, in Lagos during the opening of a two-day Strategic Operational Workshop organised for the commission’s Administrative Secretaries.
Amupitan said INEC had entered a crucial stage of its preparations, with about six months remaining before the 2027 elections. He charged the officials to ensure that the commission’s administrative procedures were applied consistently across all states and the FCT.
The chairman said differences in how administrative responsibilities were handled from one state to another could create problems during the election. He therefore called for stronger coordination and strict compliance with approved procedures.
He directed the Administrative Secretaries to improve their internal operations and work closely with other departments to reduce the risk of administrative errors that could affect the smooth conduct of the elections.
Amupitan described the workshop as an opportunity for the commission to assess its level of preparedness, identify areas where improvements were needed and develop practical ways to address possible challenges before the 2027 polls.
He said INEC would also draw lessons from recent off-cycle elections, including the Osun governorship election, to improve its systems and prepare for the demands of a nationwide election.
According to him, organising a general election involving all 36 states and the FCT would require more planning and coordination than elections conducted within a single state.
The INEC chairman urged the officials to take their responsibilities seriously and ensure that their respective offices were properly prepared for the tasks ahead.
Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos State, Professor Ayobami Salami, encouraged the Administrative Secretaries to use the workshop to examine their existing systems and identify weaknesses that could create difficulties during the 2027 election.
Salami called for closer cooperation between the administrative and technical teams of the commission, particularly in areas involving staff deployment, logistics, finances and infrastructure.
He said proper coordination in these areas would help INEC respond quickly to challenges and ensure that election preparations were carried out in an organised manner.
The workshop is part of the commission’s wider preparations for the 2027 general election, as INEC continues to review its operations and strengthen its readiness for the nationwide exercise.