Newz…Amupitan says no predetermined results for 2027 polls Pending primary litigations won’t stop elections By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is working with the Nigeria Police Force to identify and arrest perpetrators of pre-election violence, particularly in states affected by insecurity, ahead of the 2027 general elections. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during a panel session at the sixth edition of the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers in Owerri, Imo State. The conference was themed, “Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections.” According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC chairman, Adedayo Oketola, Amupitan identified security as one of the commission’s major concerns ahead of the 2027 elections.
“There are still some states in Nigeria that you have a lot of insecurities around, and it’s a major source of concern for us. Because that can be a source of disenfranchisement of Nigerians, and we don’t want any Nigerian to be disenfranchised,” he said. He said the commission was liaising with the police, as the lead agency on election security, to develop strategies for conducting elections in volatile areas.
Amupitan also expressed concern over the growing culture of personality-based politics and intolerance among political actors, urging parties to focus their campaigns on issues rather than attacking opponents. “Election should be based on issues and not campaign of calumny and denigration,” he said. He added that INEC was working with law-enforcement agencies to ensure that anyone found culpable of offences under the Electoral Act was arrested, investigated and prosecuted, noting that the responsibility for arrest and investigation rested with the police.
On the litigations arising from political party primaries, Amupitan said the disputes were matters for the courts and would not prevent the conduct of the 2027 elections. He explained that although several primary-related cases were before the courts, the Electoral Act provided for their determination through the judicial process up to the final appellate level. According to him, elections are contested by political parties, rather than individual candidates, meaning that pending litigation would not prevent a party from …
By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA: Barely four months to the 2027 general elections, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan SAN, has renewed calls for adequate funding of the commission, warning that the security and logistics required for a successful poll remain contingent on sustained financial support. Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola in a statement on Wednesday said Amupitan spoke in Owerri, Imo State, where he delivered a goodwill message at the sixth edition of the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers, themed “Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections.” Oketola disclosed that the INEC chairman was accompanied to the event by National Commissioners, Dr Ken Nnamdi Ukeagu and Rear Admiral Jamila Abubakar Malaga (retd), OFR, mni; the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Imo State, Chukwuemeka C.
Ibeziakor, Esq.; as well as Mustapha Muhammad Dogondaji, Personal Assistant; Ahmad Yusuf, Executive Assistant (Finance); and Barr. Emmanuel, Head of Legal, INEC Imo State. Speaking at the retreat, Amupitan said although the commission’s funding was constitutionally provided as a first-line charge on the Consolidated Revenue Fund, the scale of its responsibilities required sustained financial backing to enable it deliver on its mandate.
Summary from source