The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians that the outcome of the 2027 general election will reflect the sovereign will of the electorate, reaffirming its commitment to a transparent, credible, inclusive and peaceful electoral process.
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Acting INEC Chairman, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, gave the assurance on Tuesday while receiving an African Union Pre-Election Needs Assessment Mission at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The AU delegation, led by former Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonnen, is in Nigeria to assess the country’s electoral preparedness, identify potential gaps and determine areas where technical or institutional support may be required.
Gumus described the mission as an opportunity for peer assessment and institutional learning, stressing that it should not be treated as a mere formality but as part of efforts to strengthen public confidence and institutional resilience ahead of the polls.
She said INEC was already undertaking extensive operational, technological and logistical preparations for the election, while drawing lessons from recent off-cycle elections in Anambra, the Federal Capital Territory, Ekiti and Osun states.
According to her, areas in which AU support could be valuable include digital training for ad hoc election personnel, tackling election-related disinformation and deepfakes, strengthening the Election Monitoring and Support Centre, and improving inclusivity and gender-mainstreaming frameworks.
The Acting Chairman also stressed that the responsibility for electoral integrity goes beyond INEC, noting that political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, the media, development partners and voters all have roles to play.
She reaffirmed the commission’s independence and neutrality, saying that under the current INEC leadership headed by Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, administrative decisions would be guided by law while technology would be deployed to enhance transparency.
Gumus consequently assured the AU delegation that the final outcome of the 2027 general election would reflect the choice of Nigerian voters.
Speaking on the visit, Mekonnen said the AU mission was intended to be supportive and consultative, with emphasis on assessing preparations already underway and identifying risks and areas requiring assistance.
He said the mission would examine voter registration and register integrity, electoral technology, logistics, funding, inclusion, transparency, dispute resolution, security coordination and results management.
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