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The head of Nigeria’s electoral body, Professor Joash Amupitan, has committed to the mandatory electronic transmission of results for the 2027 general elections, while tempering public expectations by stating that a “100 per cent perfect” exercise remains technically out of reach.
Professor Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), made the remarks during a televised town hall on Sunday focused on the implications of the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026. Speaking to a panel of political leaders and civil society advocates, Amupitan emphasized that while the commission possesses the infrastructure to move data digitally, logistical and environmental variables continue to pose challenges to “real-time” delivery.
The pledge marks a significant institutional pivot following the 2023 elections, where the failure to upload presidential results instantaneously to a public portal triggered widespread litigation and eroded public trust. Amupitan, who assumed leadership of the commission four months ago, disclosed that INEC successfully lobbied for mandatory electronic transmission to be codified in the 2026 legislation. “We may not be able to achieve a 100 per cent perfect election for now,” Amupitan said, urging the electorate to manage their expectations. “But as far as electronic transmission of results is concerned… we have the capacity to transmit the results, and we’re going to transmit the results. The only concern was real-time.”
To illustrate the geographical hurdles facing the commission, the Chairman cited recent local government elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). While five of the six area councils reported results promptly, the Kabi ward in the Kuje Area Council remained offline until the following day. Amupitan noted that polling officials were out of cellular reach for hours due to the difficult terrain, requiring the physical retrieval of results before they could be processed.
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He argued that the primary obstacle is not the absence of a network, but rather the “adequacy” of coverage in remote areas.
“Your election can be as good as your logistics,” he told the audience, which included APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, Labour Party Interim Chair Nenadi Usman, and former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili. “Where there is logistics failure, you know that you are beginning to fail.”
The Electoral Act 2026, which Amupitan noted was the product of a three-year collaboration between the National Assembly and civil society, introduces several shifts in how political parties are regulated. In tandem with the Chairman’s public comments, INEC confirmed on Sunday that it has launched a comprehensive internal review of its guidelines to align with the new law.
According to a statement from the commission, a technical workshop in Abuja is currently conducting a “clause-by-clause” revision of the 2022 regulatory framework. The goal is to tighten oversight of candidate nominations and reduce the volume of pre-election litigation that frequently clogs the Nigerian court system. The move toward stricter party oversight is seen as a response to the administrative chaos that often characterizes internal party primaries. By clarifying compliance obligations now, three years ahead of the general ballot, INEC officials say they hope to foster a culture of legal alignment before the 2027 cycle begins in earnest.
Despite the admission of past human errors and logistical lapses, the INEC chief expressed optimism that the next national vote would represent a milestone in the country’s democratic development. He linked the success of the process directly to national progress, suggesting that a transparent vote is the only way to reverse public disillusionment. “Nobody is happy about the classification of Nigeria as an underdeveloped country,” Amupitan stated. “So we want a situation where our process will be able to guarantee the confidence and the transparency that people want to see in their system.”
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The town hall, organized by Yiaga Africa and hosted by broadcaster Seun Okinbaloye, underscored the high stakes of the 2026 legal reforms. Civil society representatives at the event noted that while the law provides a stronger backbone for electronic voting, the burden of proof remains on the commission to demonstrate that the technology cannot be bypassed or manipulated.
As the commission continues its technical workshops in Abuja, the immediate focus remains on updating subsidiary regulations. This administrative phase is expected to conclude within the quarter, providing a finalized roadmap for political parties to begin their preparations for the 2027 electoral calendar.
INEC is scheduled to release the updated regulatory manual for political parties following the conclusion of the ongoing technical review by its board of commissioners and legal experts.
