INEC Moves to Fix Logistics, Voter Access Challenges Ahead of 2027 Elections
By Trek Africa Newspaper
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun moves to address some of its longstanding operational challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections, with logistics, voter access, staff training and administrative efficiency taking centre stage.
The commission’s Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during the South-West zonal interactive meeting with INEC staff and the assessment of the commission’s readiness for the 2027 elections, held in Ikeja, Lagos.
Amupitan said the commission was determined to ensure that the challenges that had affected election administration in the past would not undermine the 2027 electoral process.
According to him, logistics remains one of INEC’s major operational challenges, particularly in the movement of sensitive materials, deployment of personnel and training of ad-hoc staff.
He said the commission was therefore redesigning its delivery chain through what he described as a “zero-failure protocol”, aimed at ensuring that critical election materials and personnel reach their destinations on time.
“We are working on ICT basic lesson tools to supplement our face-to-face training of ad-hoc staff. We will confront the perennial challenges of movement, early deployment of materials, security coordination and vendor management,” Amupitan said.
The INEC chairman also stressed the importance of taking election planning beyond the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, saying the success of an election was ultimately determined at the grassroots.
He noted that the commission had traditionally handled zonal preparations through delegates, National Commissioners or headquarters directorates, but said the new approach was intended to give field officers greater involvement in election planning.
“True success of any election is not decided solely in the meeting rooms of our headquarters in Abuja. It is decided in the field. It is determined in the Local Government Areas, Registration Area Centres and polling units,” he said.
Amupitan further challenged INEC staff to build on the commission’s recent performance in off-cycle elections, particularly the Osun State governorship election.
He said the 2027 general election must demonstrate that the level of professionalism and operational discipline displayed in recent elections could be sustained.
“If Osun election showed Nigerians what we can do, 2027 election must prove to the world that excellence is our permanent culture, not an occasional coincidence,” he said.
Beyond election-day logistics, the commission is also looking to improve voter access, particularly at the local government level.
Amupitan said INEC would review its Continuous Voter Registration processes and tackle bottlenecks affecting the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards to registered voters.
He noted that with the national register of voters approaching the 100 million mark, the scale of INEC’s responsibility had increased significantly.
“Every eligible citizen who registers must get their card without friction,” he said.
The chairman also used the meeting to highlight measures aimed at improving the welfare and working conditions of INEC personnel.
He disclosed that a new salary and welfare package for INEC staff, commission members and Resident Electoral Commissioners was at an advanced stage of implementation.
He also announced the creation of the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (CEMBSS), separate from the regular civil service salary structure, which he said would take effect from January 1, 2026.
According to him, the commission had also increased the overhead allocation to states by 150 per cent with effect from July 1, 2026.
Amupitan urged electoral officers to remain conscious of the legal and ethical responsibilities attached to their roles, particularly as decisions taken during election administration could be subjected to public scrutiny and judicial review.
“My simple message to you is that you must know the law; understand your responsibility; remain neutral; document your actions; protect the integrity of the process,” he said.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos State, Professor Ayobami Salami, said the South-West meeting provided an opportunity for INEC to critically examine previous electoral exercises and turn identified shortcomings into lessons for future elections.
Salami said reports from the various states in the zone would help the commission identify operational gaps and determine practical interventions required before 2027.
He urged staff to maintain professionalism, accountability, teamwork and respect for voters, stressing that the public might not witness the months of preparation preceding an election but would ultimately experience the quality of that preparation on election day.
The South-West zonal engagement is part of INEC’s broader preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the commission using the exercise to assess its operational readiness, strengthen its workforce and identify areas requiring intervention before the polls.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun moves to address some of its longstanding operational challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections, with logistics, voter access, staff training and administrative efficiency taking centre stage.
The commission’s Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during the South-West zonal interactive meeting with INEC staff and the assessment of the commission’s readiness for the 2027 elections, held in Ikeja, Lagos.
Amupitan said the commission was determined to ensure that the challenges that had affected election administration in the past would not undermine the 2027 electoral process.
According to him, logistics remains one of INEC’s major operational challenges, particularly in the movement of sensitive materials, deployment of personnel and training of ad-hoc staff.
He said the commission was therefore redesigning its delivery chain through what he described as a “zero-failure protocol”, aimed at ensuring that critical election materials and personnel reach their destinations on time.
“We are working on ICT basic lesson tools to supplement our face-to-face training of ad-hoc staff. We will confront the perennial challenges of movement, early deployment of materials, security coordination and vendor management,” Amupitan said.
The INEC chairman also stressed the importance of taking election planning beyond the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, saying the success of an election was ultimately determined at the grassroots.
He noted that the commission had traditionally handled zonal preparations through delegates, National Commissioners or headquarters directorates, but said the new approach was intended to give field officers greater involvement in election planning.
“True success of any election is not decided solely in the meeting rooms of our headquarters in Abuja. It is decided in the field. It is determined in the Local Government Areas, Registration Area Centres and polling units,” he said.
Amupitan further challenged INEC staff to build on the commission’s recent performance in off-cycle elections, particularly the Osun State governorship election.
He said the 2027 general election must demonstrate that the level of professionalism and operational discipline displayed in recent elections could be sustained.
“If Osun election showed Nigerians what we can do, 2027 election must prove to the world that excellence is our permanent culture, not an occasional coincidence,” he said.
Beyond election-day logistics, the commission is also looking to improve voter access, particularly at the local government level.
Amupitan said INEC would review its Continuous Voter Registration processes and tackle bottlenecks affecting the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards to registered voters.
He noted that with the national register of voters approaching the 100 million mark, the scale of INEC’s responsibility had increased significantly.
“Every eligible citizen who registers must get their card without friction,” he said.
The chairman also used the meeting to highlight measures aimed at improving the welfare and working conditions of INEC personnel.
He disclosed that a new salary and welfare package for INEC staff, commission members and Resident Electoral Commissioners was at an advanced stage of implementation.
He also announced the creation of the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (CEMBSS), separate from the regular civil service salary structure, which he said would take effect from January 1, 2026.
According to him, the commission had also increased the overhead allocation to states by 150 per cent with effect from July 1, 2026.
Amupitan urged electoral officers to remain conscious of the legal and ethical responsibilities attached to their roles, particularly as decisions taken during election administration could be subjected to public scrutiny and judicial review.
“My simple message to you is that you must know the law; understand your responsibility; remain neutral; document your actions; protect the integrity of the process,” he said.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos State, Professor Ayobami Salami, said the South-West meeting provided an opportunity for INEC to critically examine previous electoral exercises and turn identified shortcomings into lessons for future elections.
Salami said reports from the various states in the zone would help the commission identify operational gaps and determine practical interventions required before 2027.
He urged staff to maintain professionalism, accountability, teamwork and respect for voters, stressing that the public might not witness the months of preparation preceding an election but would ultimately experience the quality of that preparation on election day.
The South-West zonal engagement is part of INEC’s broader preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the commission using the exercise to assess its operational readiness, strengthen its workforce and identify areas requiring intervention before the polls.
