The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has backpedalled on his earlier promises of giving Nigerians a flawless, free, fair and credible elections blaming the shortcomings on logistics.
Speaking at the Citizens’ Town Hall programme on the Electoral Act 2026, Amupitan said, “Let me just appeal to Nigerians… what Nigerians desire is a perfect election.
“And INEC will strive as much as possible to give this country the best election. However, we may not be able to achieve a 100 per cent perfect election for now.”
He, however, assured that the commission has the capacity to electronically transmit results.
“As far as electronic transmission of results is concerned… we have the capacity to transmit the results, and that we’re going to transmit the results. The only concern was real-time,” he stated.
Quoting the recent FCT Area Council election, the INEC boss explained that poor terrain and communication challenges delayed results from Kabi ward in Kuje.
“I don’t see the issue of transmission as really a problem… the problem I have seen is the adequacy of the network we have,” he said.
Amupitan stressed that logistics remain critical to credible elections.
“Your election can be as good as your logistics. So, where there is logistics failure, you know that you are beginning to fail,” he added, acknowledging that some of the challenges experienced were human errors already being addressed.
Despite the concerns, he expressed optimism that 2027 would mark an improvement.
“I want to assure you that the election of 2027 will be the best election that Nigerians will have… by the time you have a transparent election, and people begin to trust INEC and trust their leaders, then the country will move forward,” the INEC boss said.
