INEC, AMUPITAN AND THE 2027 ELECTIONS: WHY NIGERIA MUST CHOOSE INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT OVER POLITICAL HOSTILITY
Shae Bebeyi @ Curiously Yours Arena.
Democracy is not sustained by elections alone; it thrives on credible institutions, responsible leadership, public confidence and the collective commitment of citizens to protect the democratic process.
As Nigeria moves steadily towards the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), under the leadership of Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, stands at a defining moment in the country’s democratic journey. The challenges before the commission are enormous, public expectations are high, and the demand for credible elections has never been more urgent.
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At such a critical juncture, Nigerians must decide whether to strengthen democratic institutions through constructive engagement or weaken them through unnecessary political hostility. While scrutiny and accountability remain essential ingredients of democracy, indiscriminate attacks, partisan suspicion and the premature condemnation of institutions do little to advance the democratic process.
Professor Amupitan’s emergence as INEC Chairman brought to the commission an accomplished academic and legal practitioner whose professional background includes extensive experience in law, evidence and corporate governance. As a distinguished Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, he assumed leadership of an institution confronted by longstanding challenges involving electoral credibility, public perception, operational efficiency and institutional trust.
His responsibility, therefore, extends beyond conducting elections. He must help rebuild confidence in the electoral process, strengthen administrative capacity and demonstrate that INEC can operate independently, transparently and professionally, irrespective of political interests.
His early stewardship, particularly the commission’s handling of the Osun off-cycle governorship election, offers an opportunity to assess the direction of his leadership. While the election attracted positive observations in certain operational areas, concerns and shortcomings identified by observers must also be acknowledged. This is the nature of democratic progress: recognising achievements, confronting weaknesses and making improvements.
No electoral institution becomes credible merely through declarations of good intentions. Credibility is earned through consistent performance, transparency, impartiality and the willingness to correct institutional deficiencies.
Recently, Professor Amupitan took Nigeria’s electoral agenda to the international community during his engagement at Chatham House in London. His presentation provided an opportunity to explain INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, outline the challenges confronting the commission and communicate its commitment to delivering free, fair, transparent and credible elections.
One particularly significant issue he raised was the burden of more than 300 pending litigations involving electoral matters. This is not a minor administrative concern. Prolonged electoral litigation, unresolved political disputes and last-minute judicial interventions can complicate preparations, disrupt administrative timelines and place additional pressure on an already demanding electoral process.
The implication is clear: Nigeria’s democratic stakeholders, political parties, candidates and the judiciary must recognise that electoral justice and timely resolution of disputes are essential to credible elections. The courts must remain independent, but the timely determination of electoral disputes is equally important to protecting the integrity of the process.
However, the Chairman’s international engagement was followed by an encounter with protesters outside Chatham House, where concerns about the electoral process were raised in a manner that attracted considerable public attention.
While citizens have every constitutional right to protest, question public officials and demand accountability, the manner and setting of such engagements matter. Democratic advocacy is most effective when it is informed, responsible, peaceful and directed through appropriate institutional channels.
An electoral chairman cannot reasonably be expected to resolve complex legal, administrative and electoral disputes through impromptu street confrontations. Such matters require evidence, established procedures, institutional responses and, where necessary, judicial determination.
Nevertheless, INEC must not interpret public criticism as hostility. Rather, it should see legitimate concerns as an opportunity to explain its decisions, address grievances and demonstrate transparency. Equally, citizens must understand that democratic accountability does not require the abandonment of civility, due process or national responsibility.
There is a fundamental distinction between supporting an institution and giving its leadership an unconditional endorsement. Nigerians must support INEC’s independence and institutional development while retaining their constitutional right to question its decisions and demand accountability.
Indeed, public confidence cannot be demanded; it must be earned.
Professor Amupitan’s leadership will ultimately be judged not by the number of international engagements he attends, the strength of his academic credentials or the promises made at public forums, but by the credibility of the elections conducted under his watch. The real test will be whether Nigerians, regardless of political affiliation, can participate in the electoral process with confidence that their votes will count and their choices will be respected.
This places an enormous responsibility on INEC. The commission must ensure that voter registration is credible, the voter register is reliable, technology works effectively, electoral materials arrive on time, polling officials are adequately prepared and results are transparently managed. Above all, it must demonstrate independence from political interference and treat all political parties and candidates fairly.
The responsibility, however, does not rest with INEC alone.
Political parties must embrace internal democracy, respect electoral laws and discourage violence. Candidates must demonstrate political maturity and accept lawful outcomes. Security agencies must remain professional and impartial. The judiciary must dispense electoral justice without unnecessary delays. Civil society organisations and the media must provide objective scrutiny, while citizens must reject vote-buying, electoral violence, misinformation and other practices that undermine democratic choice.
Democracy is a shared national responsibility.
As we approach 2027, Nigerians at home and in the diaspora must resist the temptation to turn every institutional disagreement into a national crisis. We must learn to distinguish between constructive criticism and destructive hostility, between legitimate political opposition and attempts to undermine public confidence without sufficient evidence.
Our electoral institutions are too important to be weakened by partisan considerations. Equally, they are too important to be shielded from legitimate scrutiny.
Professor Amupitan and his team deserve the opportunity to demonstrate their capacity, implement meaningful reforms and earn the confidence of Nigerians. That opportunity must be accompanied by public vigilance, institutional accountability and constructive national support.
Nigeria’s democracy is bigger than any political party, candidate or electoral chairman. The 2027 elections must therefore become an opportunity to strengthen our democratic foundations, restore public confidence and demonstrate that the Nigerian state is capable of conducting elections that reflect the genuine will of its people.
Let us support credible reforms, defend institutional independence, demand accountability and protect the integrity of our electoral laws.
The objective should not simply be to produce an election, but to produce an election whose outcome commands public confidence and strengthens national unity.
Nigeria is our only home. Our democracy is our collective inheritance. Its protection is our shared responsibility.
God bless Nigeria. God bless our democracy. God bless INEC.
DemocracyNewslineNewspaper November 14th, 2026
