By Ayo Kehinde
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in collaboration with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), has formally commenced strategic planning for the 2027 General Elections, as it hosted the chairperson of South Africa’s Electoral Commission (IEC) in a landmark leadership workshop held in Lagos.
The three-day high-level workshop, themed “Strategic Opportunities and Challenges to Electoral Administration in Nigeria and Africa”, opened on Tuesday in Ikeja and marked the official launch of INEC’s intensive planning cycle ahead of the 2027 polls.
The presence of South Africa’s IEC Chairperson, Mr Mosotho Simon Moepya, underscored what INEC described as a historic moment of African electoral solidarity and shared democratic responsibility.
Opening the workshop, INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, said the engagement signalled a decisive step in shaping the future of Nigeria’s democracy. He described the visit of his South African counterpart as the first official engagement with a fellow African Electoral Management Body (EMB) chair under his leadership.
“I treasure this so much. It reflects the goodwill, cooperation and shared responsibility that electoral bodies across Africa must uphold in strengthening democracy on the continent,” Amupitan said.
The INEC boss expressed appreciation to the Commission’s development partners, particularly IFES, for its decades-long support to Nigeria’s electoral process. He also acknowledged the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), and international electoral experts for their sustained technical and institutional backing.
Amupitan noted that INEC is undergoing a period of transition following recent leadership changes, stressing that institutional continuity must be anchored on clarity of purpose, integrity of leadership and unity of vision. According to him, continuity in electoral administration requires adapting to new realities while remaining faithful to constitutional mandates.
He outlined key elections ahead of 2027, including the Federal Capital Territory Area Council polls scheduled for February 21, 2026, as well as governorship elections slated for June and November 2026. He described these elections as critical testing grounds for refining INEC’s systems, technology and operational processes.
“The expectations of Nigerians are very clear. They want an electoral management body that is independent in thought and action, transparent in its processes, professional in its conduct and credible in its outcomes”, he said.
The INEC chairman also raised concern over the growing threat of misinformation and disinformation, citing recent fake reports alleging that the Commission had released the 2027 election timetable and commenced large-scale recruitment. He warned that unchecked false information could erode public trust, describing trust as the lifeblood of democracy.
“Today, that trust is being systematically undermined by misinformation and disinformation, where fake news travels faster than the truth,” he said, adding that the leadership workshop was designed to equip INEC’s top officials with the strategic capacity to respond decisively to such challenges.
Speaking at the event, IFES Africa Regional Director and Nigeria Country Director, Mr Seray Jah, said the workshop marked the early strategic phase of Nigeria’s 2027 elections. He commended INEC for its proactive approach, noting that electoral credibility is largely determined by decisions made early in the electoral cycle, rather than actions taken close to election day.
In his remarks, South Africa’s IEC Chairperson, Mr Moepya, pledged solidarity with INEC, emphasising Nigeria’s importance to Africa’s democratic development. “We look to you to do well,” he said. “Nigeria’s success strengthens democracy across Africa, and we want to accompany you on this journey.”
Also speaking, the UK FCDO Governance Adviser, Dr Matthew Ayibakuro, reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s over two-decade partnership with INEC. He linked credible elections to national development, citing studies suggesting that a single free and fair election could accelerate democratic and economic progress by more than a decade.
The workshop attracted INEC’s full strategic leadership, including all National Commissioners, senior management staff, directors and technical advisers, signalling what officials described as a unified and coordinated approach to electoral preparedness and reform.
Amupitan urged participants to be deliberate and visionary in shaping Nigeria’s electoral future, quoting management scholar Peter Drucker: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
