By Achile Danjuma
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, has stated that the commission cannot guarantee a 100% perfect election in 2027, particularly concerning the real-time electronic transmission of results.
Professor Amupitan made this admission on Sunday during a Citizens’ Town Hall Meeting in Abuja. The event, organized by the Civil Society Network on Election Integrity and held at the Abuja Continental Hotel, brought together civil society organizations, academics, election observers, and citizens to deliberate on critical electoral issues.
While acknowledging the challenges, the INEC Chairman assured Nigerians that the 2027 presidential election would be the best in the nation’s history. He defined the metrics for a successful election, emphasizing timely commencement, peace, and efficient result management.
“Number one, if you want to measure whether an election is successful, you have to determine whether the election started as advertised. And we advertised the election for 8.30. So if we’re able to start the election at 8.30. Number two, if the election is peaceful; number three, if we’re able to manage the result very well, that is result management, and then declaration of results, then you can say you have a successful election,” he explained.
However, Professor Amupitan stressed the difference between a successful election and a perfect one, pointing to ongoing issues with logistics and technology. He cited the recent FCT Area Council elections as an example, where results in five councils were transmitted on time, but one ward in Kuje experienced a significant delay until the following day.
“As a regulatory body, we were determined to achieve all this. But nonetheless, we have to admit that there was some logistics issues, some were purely human, which we are trying to address,” he said. “And let me just appeal to Nigerians, because I have noticed now that what Nigerians desire is a perfect election. And I will strive as much as possible to give this country the best election. However, we may not be able to achieve a 100% perfect election for now.”
He clarified that the commission possesses the capacity for electronic transmission, but the primary challenge lies in achieving *real-time* transmission. He drew an analogy with bank transfers, noting that while a transaction is initiated instantly, the recipient’s alert can sometimes be delayed.
“As far as electronic transmission of results is concerned, I said it before FCT Area Council that we have the capacity to transmit the results. And that we’re going to transmit the results. The only concern was real time. What is real time? For instance, if you go, you use your app to make a transfer from your account… the amount has gone. But the person may not receive the alert until another 30 minutes, another hour, or even in the evening. So those are some of the things.”
Addressing concerns about technological glitches that marred the 2023 general elections, Professor Amupitan attributed the problems to insufficient testing of the transmission system across multiple states simultaneously. He assured that this would be corrected ahead of 2027.
“My own audit of the 2023 election was that while the device was tested within the states, for instance Osun election, Ekiti election, however, when it came to the federal election, especially the presidential election that now became interstate, it was not properly tested. So one of the things we are trying to do before the election is to ensure that this transmission across the state must not fail.”
He further noted the need for simpler legislative language in the Electoral Act 2026 to ensure every Nigerian can understand its provisions. Despite the acknowledged hurdles, Professor Amupitan concluded on a hopeful note, expressing confidence in INEC’s ability to deliver a significantly improved electoral process in 2027, bolstered by a more aware and engaged electorate.
“By the grace of God, election of 2027 will be the best election that Nigerians will have. Because Nigerians of 2023 is different from what you have in 2027. People are much more aware,” he said.