By Oladele Oladipupo

Sir: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the institution set up by the Federal Government and saddled with the responsibility of conducting elections in Nigeria. The commission is also mandated to register political parties that meet its requirements. In discharging its statutory mandate, the commission has released the timetable for the conduct of the 2027 general elections. According to the timetable, the presidential and National Assembly elections will be held in January 2027 while that of the governorship and House of Assembly are slated for February 2027. We hope that the 2027 general elections will be peaceful, free, fair and credible. Let us keep our fingers crossed. Let me pose a question: Is INEC ready for the 2027 general elections?

This question sounds funny! The reason I ask is because a few days ago, the INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN) disclosed that as of September 3, 2026, the commission had not received funds meant for the conduct of the elections. He further stated that the commission needed to procure some equipment such as accreditation machines that are needed for the poll.

Obviously, the commission has to place an order for the equipment and it might take some months before they arrive in the country. I think we need to be more proactive in the way we handle issues relating to election matters. I think there shouldn’t be any delay in providing funds for the commission. It is quite unfortunate that since 1999 that we have been conducting general elections in this country, we have not been able to put our house in order. Nigeria, being the Giant of Africa is supposed to lay good examples for other African countries to emulate. Over the years, I have watched on television several occasions how hoodlums hi-jacked ballot boxes, burnt down polling booths and destroyed election materials. Elections in Nigeria have been a do or die Affair. The question is: Why do we have to kill ourselves because of elections?

Of great concerns are some signs already manifesting ahead of the planned 2027 general elections. According to media reports, some members of the ruling party have been alleged to have made inflammatory statements, threats and taken actions that are inimical and capable of disturbing the peace in the country. I think it is imperative that INEC and relevant security agencies should warn these people.

It would be recalled that the last Osun State governorship election witnessed chaotic situations. However, we give glory to God for making the election a hitch-free. We also have to commend both the INEC and the security agencies for their hard work and professionalism. They did a fantastic job. One of the major challenges that we have in this country as far as elections are concerned is that some of us are not disciplined at all. For instance, despite the fact that prior to any general elections, the INEC chairman always warn all the political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct themselves responsibly and that any attempt to disrupt the elections will be met with the force of the law, some hoodlums always like to take the laws into their hands.

Nigerians are seriously praying for the success of the 2027 elections. However, to make the exercise hitch-free, I would like the INEC chairman to take note of the following suggestions:

First, is Funding: It is obvious that for any Election to be peaceful, free, fair and credible, funding is very crucial. To be on safer side, the INEC chairman should as much as possible do follow-up on the requests made for the conduct of the 2027 poll. He should remember that all eyes are on him and time is not on his side.

The second issue is that of security of lives and property before and during the elections: It is important that the INEC chairman liaise with the Inspector General of Police (IG) and the heads of other relevant security agencies to provide adequate security measures before, during and after the elections. The security agencies should protect the voters, candidates, party agents, electoral officials and electoral materials without discriminations.

They should also make sure that there is a level playing field for every political actor. That is, every political party must have equal opportunity to campaign and participate in the elections without intimidation or harassment. The electorate should remain law abiding, cooperate with the security agencies and report any suspicious activities. It is also imperative that INEC collaborate with the National Union of Road Transport Workers to fashion out modalities for conveying electoral materials, equipment and personnel to various polling units nationwide. Efforts should also be intensified to provide boats for transporting equipment, election materials and personnel in the riverine areas.
There is need for awareness and sensitization to be done. There are people that have just attained the age of 18 years and such people need to obtain their PVCs while some people have lost theirs.

One of the challenges that INEC should envisage is that of vote buying which has increasingly shifted from physical cash exchanges at polling units to digital financial transactions. It is advisable that INEC work with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and plain cloth anti-corruption personnel who will monitor the surroundings of polling units and arrest suspected buyers and sellers of vote.

• By Oladele Oladipupo