The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, has warned that assaults on electoral officers, together with members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) deployed for election duties, will appeal to the complete weight of the regulation.
Amupitan gave the warning on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, through the South-South Zonal Interactive Meeting with Staff and Readiness Assessment forward of the 2027 General Election.
He mentioned the Commission was working with safety businesses beneath the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to strengthen safety preparations and shield voters, electoral personnel and election supplies.
The INEC chairman pressured that anybody who threatens or assaults election officers can be held accountable in accordance with the regulation.
He additionally charged electoral officers throughout the South-South geopolitical zone to uphold impartiality, self-discipline and accountability, warning that partisanship, negligence, absenteeism and monetary impropriety would appeal to disciplinary measures.
According to him, the zonal readiness evaluation was a part of the Commission’s field-based strategy to evaluating operational preparedness, figuring out gaps and strengthening service supply forward of the 2027 elections.
He mentioned INEC was drawing classes from its conduct of governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states, FCT Area Council elections and 16 by-elections to enhance preparations for the nationwide train.
Amupitan disclosed that the South-South zone had 15,823,550 registered voters, with Rivers State accounting for 3,736,434, stressing that no eligible voter ought to be disenfranchised due to administrative negligence or logistical failures.
On electoral know-how, he mentioned the Commission was getting ready its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), together with 57,000 newly procured units, whereas auditing its digital outcome administration programs to strengthen transparency in outcome transmission by the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
Addressing issues over suspicious pictures within the preliminary voters’ register printed on-line, the INEC chairman mentioned the Commission was analyzing the data and would take corrective measures based mostly on verified findings.
He urged Nigerians to take part within the ongoing show, claims and objections course of forward of the publication of the ultimate voters’ register scheduled for December 15, 2026.
On the logistical challenges dealing with the area, notably its creeks, coastal settlements and riverine communities, Amupitan disclosed that INEC had concluded a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maritime Transporters Union to facilitate the well timed and safe motion of election personnel and supplies.
The chairman additionally highlighted measures to enhance workers welfare, together with the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (CEMBSS), enhanced salaries, hazard and subject allowances, in addition to a 150 per cent improve in month-to-month allocations for state places of work, efficient July 1, 2026.
Earlier, the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) described the assembly as an necessary alternative to evaluate the Commission’s preparedness and handle excellent operational challenges forward of the 2027 elections.
The REC mentioned credible elections required enough logistics, skilled personnel, practical know-how, efficient safety coordination and sustained voter schooling.
He known as for stronger collaboration between INEC headquarters and state places of work, in addition to inclusive participation by ladies, younger individuals and individuals with disabilities.
In her presentation, the Director of Planning and Monitoring, Mrs. Helen Ajayi, mentioned the assembly was designed to evaluate the preparedness of the six South-South states, determine operational and logistical challenges and evaluation departmental progress in direction of the 2027 General Election.
She mentioned the evaluation would cowl election safety, personnel coaching, voter schooling, stakeholder engagement, voter registration, Permanent Voter Card assortment, data and communication know-how, human assets and election operations.
Ajayi additionally emphasised the significance of Electoral Risk Management in figuring out potential flashpoints and supporting preventive measures and safety coordination.
She urged Electoral Officers and different subject personnel to cooperate with the evaluation groups, stressing the necessity for grassroots mobilisation and the involvement of conventional rulers in encouraging eligible residents to take part within the elections.
Representatives of the six South-South states additionally offered studies on their ranges of preparedness, highlighting operational progress, excellent duties and challenges requiring consideration.
The assembly featured displays by administrators and representatives of INEC departments, together with Voter Education and Publicity, Voter Registry, Information and Communication Technology, Human Resources and Electoral Operations.
Amupitan formally declared the assembly open, urging electoral officers to display integrity, professionalism and dedication to delivering credible, clear and inclusive elections in 2027.
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