INEC Sets Osun Election as Benchmark for 2027

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will build on the successes recorded during the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election as it prepares for the 2027 General Election.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this when he received a delegation from the Canadian High Commission led by Canada’s Chargé d’Affaires to Nigeria, David Sproule, during a courtesy visit to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

This was disclosed in a statement via the X handle of INEC, on Friday, August 21.

Sproule reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democratic and electoral processes ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said Canada remained committed to assisting countries seeking to strengthen democratic institutions and ensure elections are free, fair and trusted by citizens.

The Canadian envoy expressed particular interest in INEC’s preparations for the 2027 polls and pledged continued support in areas including electoral participation, women’s inclusion, public awareness, technical assistance and election observation.

He said Canada would continue to share relevant expertise and information that could help strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system, noting that both countries shared the objective of promoting credible and legitimate elections.

Amupitan described Nigeria-Canada relations as a longstanding partnership built around mutual respect, democratic values, the rule of law and good governance.

He commended Canada for its continued support for electoral governance, civic education, institutional strengthening and gender inclusion in Nigeria.

The INEC chairman said the commission remained committed to conducting elections that are free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive, reflecting the will of Nigerian voters.

According to him, INEC has been using recent off-cycle elections as testing grounds for electoral reforms and operational improvements.

He cited the Anambra State Governorship Election, the FCT Area Council elections and the Ekiti State Governorship Election as some of the polls through which the commission had tested and improved its electoral processes.

Amupitan also singled out the August 15 Osun Governorship Election as a major benchmark for the commission’s preparations for 2027.

He said 3,556 of the state’s 3,763 polling units, representing 94.5 per cent, opened for accreditation and voting by 8:30 a.m.

The chairman also highlighted what he described as optimal performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), seamless result uploads on the IReV portal and proactive management of crises during the election.

“We view the success in Osun not as a final destination, but as the gold standard that will guide our preparations for 2027,” Amupitan stated.

The INEC chairman disclosed that the statutory commencement of campaigns and rallies for the 2027 General Election began on August 19, 2026.

He also said the commission participated in the signing of the First National Peace Accord on Issue-Based Campaigns by presidential candidates on August 18 under the auspices of the National Peace Committee.

Amupitan identified five priority areas for INEC ahead of the 2027 elections.

They include consolidating technological gains, improving electoral inclusivity, strengthening institutional capacity and technical support, combating misinformation and protecting electoral integrity.

The commission, he added, would also conduct a nationwide mock accreditation exercise in November 2026.

According to him, the exercise will subject the BVAS and other electoral equipment to rigorous field testing to determine INEC’s level of preparedness and identify potential operational challenges ahead of the 2027 General Election.