By: Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja.

The second day of the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) witnessed major strides in global electoral innovation, with the Honourable Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash O. Amupitan, actively participating in the day’s high-level engagements.

The standout moment of the day was the official launch of ECINET, a unified digital platform accessible via mobile and web, aimed at deepening citizen engagement in the electoral process of the world’s largest democracy. Designed as a secure, all-in-one system, ECINET brings together voters, candidates, political parties, and election officials, streamlining access to critical election-related services on a single platform.

Delivering the keynote address, India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Mr. Gyanesh Kumar, described ECINET as the culmination of decades of electoral reforms and technological advancement.

He revealed that the platform integrates more than 40 existing election applications previously operated by the Election Commission of India, significantly boosting efficiency, transparency, and accessibility in election administration.

Earlier in the day, Professor Amupitan also held strategic talks with the Secretary-General of International IDEA, Dr. Kevin Casas-Zamora, who conveyed the organisation’s strong interest in collaborating with INEC on election management and broader democratic governance initiatives.

The conference, which runs from January 21 to 23, 2026, continues to serve as a global forum for sharing innovations, strengthening partnerships, and advancing democratic practices worldwide.