Ahead of the 2027 general section, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan has warned that the scale of insecurity across various parts of the country presents a threat to the conduct of free and fair elections.
Amupitan made this known on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, where he formally sought the support and collaboration of the Nigeria Police Force ahead of the 2027 general election.
He added that it is essential that a thorough security risk analysis is conducted ahead of the elections
The chairman in a statement issued Thursday by INEC Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi identified issues such as electoral malpractices, vote trading, and threats of violence as factors that undermine public confidence and pose risks to national security.
The Chairman stressed the need for proactive security measures, including comprehensive risk assessments to identify potential flashpoints and deploy appropriate mitigation strategies.
Amupitan noted: “The scale of insecurity across various parts of the country presents a threat to the conduct of free and fair elections. It is essential that we carry out thorough security risk analyses ahead of the elections.”
He informed the police leadership that the Commission has commenced preparations for the 2027 elections, scheduled for January 16, 2027, for the Presidential and National Assembly polls, and February 6, 2027, for Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
The chairman noted that the release of the election timetable and the ongoing political party activities, including ward congresses and conventions, signal the full activation of the electoral process, which he described as a “security trigger.”
According to him, Political parties are expected to conduct their primaries in line with Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2026, which permits only direct primaries and consensus for candidate nominations.
Responding to the concerns and requests raised earlier by the INEC Chairman, the Inspector-General of Police assured the Commission of the Nigeria Police Force’s preparedness to provide a secure environment for the conduct of the 2027 general election.
He said the Police, as the lead agency in election security management, would discharge its responsibilities with professionalism, impartiality and strict adherence to the Constitution, the Electoral Act and other extant laws.
Disu also assured the Commission of adequate security for electoral officials, sensitive materials, collation centres and other critical electoral infrastructure throughout the electoral process.
He stressed that no political party, candidate or interest group would enjoy preferential treatment from the Police, warning that officers found engaging in partisan conduct or unethical practices would face disciplinary and legal consequences.