BY OUR CORRESPONDENT
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned its personnel against partisan conduct and electoral misconduct ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring that no staff member will be shielded from sanctions for actions capable of undermining the credibility of the polls.
The commission’s chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, issued the warning on Monday during an engagement with staff at the INEC headquarters in Enugu, where he outlined ongoing efforts to strengthen the commission’s technological capacity, logistics and personnel preparedness.
Amupitan insisted that electoral officials must demonstrate impartiality in their conduct and avoid relationships with politicians that could compromise public confidence in their neutrality.
“You don’t belong to any political party, and you should not be seen with any politician. You should be seen to be neutral,” he said.
He warned that the commission would hold staff accountable for their actions, stressing that professional standards and strict adherence to electoral procedures were essential to protecting the integrity of the 2027 elections.
“Accountability is paramount. We need to guard against any act that would undermine the sanctity of the election. There is a reward for good work and consequences for misconduct,” he said.
Beyond the warning, the chairman disclosed that INEC had ordered additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation Systems (BVAS) to support voter accreditation during the elections.
He said the configuration of the devices and training of personnel would begin soon, with the exercise covering provisions of the new Electoral Act and the commission’s guidelines for the polls.
Amupitan also announced that non-sensitive election materials had started arriving, contracts had been awarded for facility upgrades, and procurement of vehicles and other logistics equipment was underway.
The measures, he said, were part of preparations to ensure timely deployment of election materials, prompt activation of Registration Area Centres and early commencement of voting across polling units.
He also tasked the Information and Communication Technology and Voter Registry units with ensuring effective and transparent result management.
On security, Amupitan said INEC was working with security agencies to protect its personnel, electoral infrastructure and voters, while addressing threats against its regular and ad hoc workforce.
He charged staff to improve their competence and dedication, saying the commission was determined to build a workforce capable of meeting high standards of electoral administration.
Meanwhile, the chairman disclosed that a new salary structure for INEC staff had been approved, adding that the commission was working towards its implementation alongside other welfare packages.
The presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.