The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians of its capacity to electronically transmit election results in the 2027 general elections, while cautioning that a completely flawless process cannot be guaranteed.
The Chairman of INEC, Joash Amupitan, gave the assurance on Sunday during the Citizens’ Town Hall programme aired live on Channels Television. The programme was themed “Electoral Act 2026: What it means for your votes and the 2027 elections.”
Amupitan urged Nigerians to manage expectations, noting that while the commission is committed to conducting credible elections, achieving absolute perfection remains unrealistic.
“I want to appeal to Nigerians, because I have noticed now that what Nigerians desire is a perfect election. And INEC will strive as much as possible to give this country the best election,” he said.
“However, we may not be able to achieve a 100 per cent perfect election for now.”
Electronic Transmission Capacity
Addressing concerns about the electronic transmission of results, the INEC chairman said the commission has the technical capacity to transmit results electronically in 2027.
He explained, however, that the major challenge lies in defining and achieving real-time transmission, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach locations.
Citing the recent Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, Amupitan said results were transmitted promptly in five of the six area councils, but delays occurred in Kabi Ward of Kuje Area Council due to difficult terrain and communication challenges.
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According to him, electoral officials deployed to the ward were temporarily unreachable because of network limitations, and the results were eventually transported physically and collated the following day.
“I don’t see the issue of transmission as really a problem,” he said. “The problem I have seen is the adequacy of the network we have.”
Electoral Act 2026 and Reform Process
Amupitan disclosed that INEC played an active role in the review process that led to the Electoral Act 2026. He said the exercise began nearly three years ago through collaboration involving the National Assembly, civil society organisations and the commission.
He revealed that INEC pushed for mandatory electronic transmission of results during legislative engagements, particularly in response to controversies that followed the 2023 general elections.
“Even talking about transmission of results, the original provision from the National Assembly retreat was not exactly what you have today. When INEC came in, we talked of transmission being mandatory,” he said.
Logistics and Operational Challenges
The INEC chairman stressed that logistics remain central to the credibility of elections, warning that operational failures could undermine public confidence.
“Your election can be as good as your logistics. Where there is logistics failure, you know that you are beginning to fail,” he said.
He acknowledged that the FCT Area Council elections experienced some logistical and human errors, but assured Nigerians that corrective measures were already being implemented.
Outlook for 2027
Despite the challenges, Amupitan expressed optimism that the 2027 general elections would mark a significant improvement, citing growing voter awareness and increased public demand for transparency.
“Election is the lifeblood of democracy. According to Abraham Lincoln, the ballot is more powerful than the bullets,” he said, emphasising the importance of voter education and institutional accountability.
He added that Nigerians are expected to be more politically conscious in 2027 than in previous election cycles, a development he believes will positively influence the electoral process.
“I want to assure you that the election of 2027 will be the best election that Nigerians will have,” he said. “By the time you have a transparent election, and people begin to trust INEC and trust their leaders, then the country will move forward.”
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
