The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially set the wheels in motion for the 2027 general elections, releasing a comprehensive timetable and announcing a landmark “mock presidential election” to verify the integrity of its electronic transmission systems.

Speaking at a news conference on Friday in Abuja, the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, announced that the Presidential and National Assembly elections will take place on February 20, 2027, while Governorship and State Assembly elections are scheduled for March 6, 2027.

Addressing lingering concerns regarding the Result Viewing Portal (IReV) and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), Professor Amupitan emphasised that the commission is focused on avoiding the technical “glitches” that marred public confidence in previous cycles.

“I am committed to even having a mock presidential election. You see, the delicate thing about technology is if a technology is designed without being properly tested. We don’t have issues with transmission to IREV in respect of the elections. We are doing everything possible to make sure that we test whatever we have. I did not say that technology will not be used,” he said.

Amupitan further clarified that the commission has no intention of abandoning electronic transmission, despite ongoing legislative debates. “No matter how it ends, we already have our policies. I think that we should ensure that the results are transmitted,” he said.

With the formal release of the Notice of Election, INEC warned political parties that the window for internal democracy is now active.

The Chairman urged parties to conduct transparent primaries and cautioned against any attempt to bypass the statutory timelines.

“Political parties are strongly advised to strictly adhere to the timelines. The Commission will not hesitate to enforce compliance with the law. I call on political parties to conduct peaceful and credible primaries, to shun violence and inflammatory rhetoric, and to uphold internal democracy,” he cautioned.

Responding to questions regarding the rising cost of elections, the Chairman pointed to the massive scale of personnel required, noting that for every polling unit, four poll officers are needed.

He noted that inflation, forex fluctuations, and the cost of training nearly 450,000 ad-hoc staff significantly impact the budget.

He however dismissed reports that the commission would spend N1 trillion on the election.

Professor Amupitan also took the opportunity to debunk recent media reports suggesting the commission intended to divert funds to build hospitals.

“I was misquoted when they said I said I was going to build a hospital. It was not in my budget. There was a question as to why we are buying drugs. They asked if we have hospitals. I said, ‘Look, we have clinics and that those drugs were meant for our existing clinics. And a senator said, ‘Why are you building hospitals?’ Nobody ever said we were going to build hospitals. We never said we want to build hospitals,” he said.

The Chairman explained that the dates were chosen in strict adherence to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2022, which requires the Notice of Election to be published at least 360 days before the polls.

He noted that while certain states like Anambra, Bayelsa, and Edo remain on “off-cycle” schedules due to court-altered tenures, the commission is bound by Section 76 of the Constitution to maintain those specific timelines.

As the 2027 countdown begins, the commission called on all stakeholders, including security agencies, the media, and civil society, to treat the upcoming elections as a collective national responsibility. (Vanguard)

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