The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, has said the commission cannot guarantee a 100 per cent flawless general election in 2027, particularly regarding real-time electronic transmission of results.
Amupitan, who spoke at a Citizens’ Townhall Meeting organised by the Civil Society Network on Election Integrity in Abuja on Sunday, however, assured Nigerians that the 2027 presidential poll would be the best in the nation’s history.
The forum, held at Abuja Continental Hotel, brought together civil society organisations, academics, election observers and members of the public to deliberate on electoral reforms and transparency.
While acknowledging logistical and human challenges encountered in previous elections, the INEC chairman stressed that perfection remains aspirational.
“Nigerians desire a perfect election, and we will strive to deliver the best possible process. But we may not be able to achieve a 100 per cent perfect election for now,” he said.
He explained that the commission has the capacity to transmit results electronically but clarified that concerns often arise over what constitutes “real-time” transmission.
Drawing an analogy with bank transfers, Amupitan noted that while a transaction may be completed instantly on the sender’s end, the recipient might not receive an alert immediately.
“That is the issue with real-time transmission. The result may be transmitted, but network or system delays may affect when it is received,” he said.
Citing the recent Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, he disclosed that results were transmitted promptly in five councils, but one ward in Kuje experienced delays until the following day.
According to him, election success should be assessed based on timely commencement, peaceful conduct, effective result management and prompt declaration.
“If the election starts as scheduled, is peaceful, and results are properly managed and declared, then it can be considered successful,” he stated.
Amupitan admitted that some of the challenges encountered were logistics-related, while others were human errors, adding that the commission is working to address them ahead of 2027.
On fears of technical glitches, he said technology must be rigorously tested before deployment, noting that while devices were tested during off-cycle governorship elections in states such as Osun and Ekiti, broader interstate testing was inadequate during the 2023 presidential poll.
“One of the steps we are taking is to ensure that transmission across states will not fail. The glitch, by God’s grace, will not surface again,” he said.
He added that Section 63 of the Electoral Act provides safeguards in the event of transmission failure, stressing that under his tenure, results would be transmitted even if real-time delivery is delayed.
The INEC chairman also advocated the simplification of electoral legislation to enable ordinary Nigerians to understand the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
“With greater awareness and improved logistics, the 2027 election will surpass previous exercises. Nigerians are more informed today than in 2023,” he said.
