The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has intensified preparations for the 2027 general elections, directing its Administrative Secretaries across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to close operational gaps and adopt a standardised approach to election administration.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, gave the directive on Monday in Lagos while opening a two-day Strategic Operational Workshop for Administrative Secretaries.
Amupitan said the Commission had reached a critical stage in its preparations for the 2027 polls and could no longer afford inconsistencies in administrative procedures or differences in how electoral responsibilities are handled across states.
He explained that the workshop was designed to strengthen the Commission’s preparedness and ensure that Administrative Secretaries operate according to common national procedures.
INEC Draws Lessons From Recent Elections
The INEC chairman said experiences from recent off-cycle elections, particularly the Osun State governorship election, would be converted into operational standards that could be applied across the country.
According to him, recent electoral exercises demonstrated the importance of effective logistics, reliable technology and administrative discipline in delivering credible elections.
However, he noted that conducting an election simultaneously across all 36 states and the FCT would be considerably more demanding than managing an election in a single state.
He therefore urged the Commission to identify successful practices and replicate them nationwide ahead of 2027.
Administrative Secretaries Given Greater Responsibility
Amupitan described Administrative Secretaries as key technical, operational and administrative officials within INEC’s state structures.
While Resident Electoral Commissioners provide overall leadership in their respective states, he said Administrative Secretaries oversee the daily administrative machinery of state offices and play an important role in ensuring that electoral activities commence efficiently and on schedule.
The Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Ayobami Salami, also urged participants to critically examine existing procedures, identify weaknesses and develop workable solutions ahead of the elections.
He stressed that effective coordination of personnel, logistics, finances, infrastructure and other administrative resources would be crucial to successful election management.
Five Key Areas Identified
The INEC chairman identified five major areas that will receive attention as preparations for the 2027 elections progress.
They include Continuous Voter Registration and Permanent Voter’s Card distribution, logistics and election-material management, electoral technology, human-resource management and general administration and financial compliance.
The Commission is also seeking greater operational familiarity with electoral technologies such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), among other platforms.
INEC said preparations will also focus on the recruitment, screening and training of ad-hoc personnel who will participate in the 2027 electoral process.
INEC Introduces Operational Readiness Tracker
Another major initiative announced at the workshop is the proposed Administrative Secretary Master Operational Tracker.
The standardised tracker is expected to give INEC headquarters and other senior officials real-time information on the level of preparedness across state offices.
It will monitor important areas such as the distribution of election materials, training of ad-hoc personnel and overall state-level readiness.
Amupitan said the initiative would help the Commission move away from reacting to problems after they occur and instead identify potential challenges early enough for corrective action.
He added that the tracker could eventually serve as a permanent operational blueprint for newly appointed Administrative Secretaries beyond the 2027 elections.
Amupitan Warns Against Political Interference
The INEC chairman also warned Administrative Secretaries against compromising established procedures or allowing political interference to affect their duties.
He stressed that documentation, punctuality, preparedness and strict compliance must become part of the Commission’s institutional culture.
Amupitan further encouraged officials to report operational challenges promptly rather than concealing them, noting that early intervention could prevent relatively minor problems from developing into serious electoral difficulties.
INEC Seeks Better Cooperation Among Officials
The Secretary to the Commission, Dr Rose Oriaran-Anthony, also highlighted the need for stronger cooperation between Administrative Secretaries and Resident Electoral Commissioners.
She expressed concern over reports of strained relationships between the two levels of leadership, warning that internal disharmony could negatively affect the Commission’s effectiveness.
She urged participants to use the workshop to openly discuss institutional challenges and develop solutions that would improve coordination across INEC’s state offices.
The Commission’s latest move comes as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum, with INEC seeking to ensure that its state-level structures operate under a coordinated and uniform framework.
