The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has warned that anybody who assaults or threatens electoral officers, together with National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed for election duties, will face the complete weight of the regulation….
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has warned that anybody who assaults or threatens electoral officers, together with National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed for election duties, will face the complete weight of the regulation.
Amupitan gave the warning on Saturday in the course of the South-South Zonal Interactive Meeting with Staff and Readiness Assessment in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, because the Commission intensifies preparations for the 2027 normal elections.
He urged INEC personnel throughout the South-South geopolitical zone to keep up impartiality, self-discipline and accountability, warning that partisanship, negligence, absenteeism and monetary misconduct would entice disciplinary motion.
The INEC chairman mentioned the readiness evaluation was a part of the Commission’s discipline-primarily based technique to judge operational preparedness, determine gaps and enhance service supply forward of the elections.
He cited the Commission’s expertise in conducting governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States, FCT Area Council elections and 16 by-elections as essential classes informing preparations for the 2027 train.
Amupitan disclosed that the South-South zone has 15,823,550 registered voters, together with 3,736,434 in Rivers State.
He pressured that no eligible voter needs to be disenfranchised due to administrative negligence or logistical failures.
On electoral expertise, the INEC chairman mentioned the Commission was getting ready its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), together with 57,000 newly procured gadgets, whereas auditing its digital outcome administration methods to strengthen transparency within the transmission of election outcomes by the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
Addressing considerations over suspected synthetic intelligence-generated pictures within the preliminary voters’ register printed on-line, Amupitan mentioned the Commission was analyzing the data and would take corrective motion primarily based on verified findings.
He urged Nigerians to take part within the show, claims and objections train forward of the publication of the ultimate register scheduled for December 15, 2026.
On logistics, he acknowledged the challenges posed by the South-South’s creeks, coastal settlements and riverine communities.
He disclosed that INEC had finalised a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maritime Transporters Union to facilitate the well timed and safe transportation of election personnel and supplies to tough-to-attain places.
On election safety, Amupitan reaffirmed the Commission’s collaboration with safety companies by the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), stressing the significance of intelligence-led planning and the safety of voters, electoral supplies and personnel.
He warned that assaults on INEC officers, notably corps members serving as advert hoc election employees, wouldn’t be tolerated.
The INEC chairman additionally known as for strict compliance with electoral legal guidelines, laws and tips, whereas highlighting measures launched to enhance employees welfare.
These embrace the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (CEMBSS), enhanced salaries, hazard and discipline allowances, in addition to a 150 per cent improve in month-to-month overhead allocations for state places of work, efficient July 1, 2026.
Amupitan mentioned the measures had been a part of efforts to strengthen the Commission’s institutional capability and guarantee credible, clear and peaceable elections in 2027.
