By Kingston Magare 6.5.2026
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Joash Amupitan, said it would be difficult to conduct free and fair elections in Nigeria following the rising cases of terror, kidnapping and other crimes.
Prof. Amupitan was speaking Wednesday while visiting the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, in Abuja in Abuja. As the electioneering campaign season draws near Prof. Amupitan said threats of violence, electoral malpratics are major issues to be dealt with ahead of the 2027 elections.
“In Nigeria, our electoral system has placed numerous challenges over the years, ranging from malpractices to threats of violence, vote trading that undermine the confidence of the electorates,” Amupitan said.
“These challenges not only affect the outcome of our elections, but also pose significant risks to our national security. Thus, it is imperative that we address these concerns with utmost seriousness and resolve.”
He said the police and other security agencies should be proactive and nip in the bid any threat to security during the elections.
“The scale of insecurity across the various parts of Nigeria presents a threat to the conduct of the fair election,” he said.
“It is essential that we carry out total security risk analysis ahead of the election and this will enable us to identify potential flashpoints and deploy appropriate strategies to mitigate risks, thereby safeguarding voters, electoral officials and the integrity of the electoral process.”
The presidential election is scheduled for January 16, 2027, the governorship and state assembly elections fixed for February 6, 2027. Amupitan said there is a need for collaboration with the INEC and the security agencies.