The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a transparent, credible, inclusive and peaceful 2027 general election, assuring Nigerians that the final outcome will reflect the sovereign will of the electorate.
The assurance was given by INEC Acting Chairman, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, on Tuesday when she received the African Union (AU) Pre-Election Needs Assessment Mission at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The AU delegation, led by former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen, is in Nigeria to assess preparations for the 2027 elections and identify areas where additional technical support may be required.
Gumus described the AU mission as an opportunity for peer assessment, institutional learning and further strengthening of Nigeria’s electoral processes ahead of the general election.
She said the engagement should not be treated as a routine exercise but as a mechanism for improving institutional resilience and strengthening public confidence in the electoral process.
The Acting Chairman highlighted the operational, technological and logistical preparations already being undertaken by INEC to ensure that eligible Nigerians can participate effectively in the 2027 polls.
She also said the Commission was drawing lessons from recent off-cycle elections in Anambra, the Federal Capital Territory, Ekiti and Osun states as part of its preparations.
Gumus identified areas where technical and institutional support from the AU would be useful, including digital training for ad hoc election personnel, tackling election-related disinformation and deepfakes, strengthening the Election Monitoring and Support Centre, and improving inclusion and gender-mainstreaming frameworks.
She stressed that electoral integrity was a shared responsibility involving INEC, political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, the media, development partners and voters.
Gumus also reaffirmed the independence and neutrality of the Commission, saying INEC remained committed to conducting the 2027 election professionally and in accordance with the law.
She said administrative decisions under the current Commission, led by Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, would be guided by the law, while technical deployments would be designed to promote transparency.
The Acting Chairman assured Nigerians that the final outcome of the 2027 general election would reflect the sovereign will of the electorate.
Speaking on the AU delegation’s visit, Mekonnen said the mission was intended as a supportive and consultative engagement to review preparations already underway, identify possible gaps and risks, and explore areas for technical assistance.
He said the mission would engage INEC and other stakeholders on issues including voter registration and voter-register integrity, electoral technology, logistics, funding, inclusion, transparency, dispute resolution, security coordination and results management.
Mekonnen also highlighted the continued partnership between Nigeria and the African Union in promoting democratic governance and credible elections across the continent.
