Nigeria’s electoral commission has warned that rising insecurity across the country could undermine efforts to hold free, fair and credible elections in 2027.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, raised the concern on Wednesday during a visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, in Abuja, as preparations for the next general elections gather pace.
Prof. Amupitan said recurring violence, electoral malpractice and other security threats continue to weaken public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.
“In Nigeria, our electoral system has placed numerous challenges over the years, ranging from malpractices to threats of violence, vote trading that undermine the confidence of the electorates,” he said.
“These challenges not only affect the outcome of our elections, but also pose significant risks to our national security. Thus, it is imperative that we address these concerns with utmost seriousness and resolve.”
He warned that without strong and coordinated security measures, the credibility of future elections could be seriously affected.
According to him, security agencies must identify potential hotspots ahead of time and adopt preventive strategies to protect voters, election officials and materials.
“The scale of insecurity across various parts of Nigeria presents a threat to the conduct of fair elections,” he added.
The INEC chairman also noted that ongoing political activities, including party congresses and upcoming primaries under the Electoral Act 2026, increase the urgency for adequate security planning.
He further highlighted upcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as several by-elections across the country, describing them as important tests for Nigeria’s democratic system.
Prof. Amupitan also said INEC is working to ensure that internally displaced persons (IDPs) and persons with disabilities are able to participate in the electoral process under safe and accessible conditions.
In response, Inspector-General of Police Tunji Rilwan Disu assured INEC of the police force’s readiness to support peaceful and credible elections.
He described the visit as timely and said the police had already activated measures aimed at curbing political violence and electoral offences.
The police chief added that close collaboration between security agencies and the electoral body would be key to strengthening democratic stability in the country.
