By: Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja.

Every leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is ultimately judged not by the promises it makes but by the elections it conducts. Policy statements may inspire confidence, institutional reforms may signal intent and technological innovations may raise expectations, but the credibility of any electoral management body is measured by its performance on election day.

For the current INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), the off-cycle governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun are emerging as more than routine constitutional exercises.

They are increasingly being viewed as the Commission’s first major opportunity to demonstrate the institutional philosophy that could define the conduct of the 2027 General Election.

While no two elections are identical, the Commission’s handling of these governorship polls provides important insight into its priorities.

Early indications suggest an administration placing greater emphasis on operational planning, technological deployment, transparency and stakeholder engagement, while recognising that persistent challenges such as political violence, vote buying and declining public trust remain significant obstacles to credible elections.

That broader approach was evident during Professor Amupitan’s recent visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election.

Beyond protocol, the visit underscored an appreciation that electoral credibility is built not only through legal frameworks and technology but also through public confidence and the support of respected community institutions.

By describing the Osun governorship election as the most consequential off-cycle election because it would serve as a benchmark for the 2027 General Election, the INEC Chairman signalled that the Commission sees these elections as institutional rehearsals rather than isolated political contests.

Off-cycle elections offer a relatively controlled environment for testing logistics, voter accreditation, result transmission, inter-agency coordination and crisis management before similar systems are deployed across the country during a general election involving millions of voters.

From that perspective, the Commission’s emphasis on preparedness appears strategic rather than symbolic.

The deployment of thousands of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, supported by reserve units and expanded Registration Area Centres, reflects an effort to anticipate operational challenges before they occur.

This marks an important institutional shift. Previous elections have often been undermined not by deficiencies in electoral law but by administrative failures, delayed deployment of officials, malfunctioning equipment and logistical setbacks that weakened public confidence and generated post-election disputes.

Although operational improvements alone cannot eliminate political disagreements, they can reduce avoidable controversies and strengthen confidence in the electoral process.

Another defining feature of Professor Amupitan’s early stewardship has been his repeated emphasis on institutional neutrality.

His declaration that INEC has no preferred candidate and no interest beyond protecting the integrity of the electoral process is significant.

However, for an institution that has frequently faced allegations of political bias, neutrality is ultimately judged less by official statements than by consistent conduct before, during and after elections.

Whether that perception is sustained through 2027 will depend on the Commission’s willingness to apply identical standards to every political party and candidate, irrespective of political influence.

Perhaps even more significant than discussions about technology and logistics is the Chairman’s focus on the political environment in which elections are conducted.

His warning against political violence, voter intimidation and vote buying highlights challenges that continue to undermine Nigeria’s democratic process.

As he observed, democracy loses its essence when elections are monetised or when citizens are prevented from exercising their franchise freely.

That warning resonates strongly against the backdrop of political developments in Osun State.

The Ooni of Ife has publicly appealed for restraint, describing the prevailing political atmosphere as disturbing while urging political actors to embrace peaceful campaigns and calling on INEC to maintain impartiality.

The concerns have been heightened by the controversy surrounding a police operation at the residence of the Secretary to the Osun State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, shortly before the governorship election.

While police authorities said the operation followed intelligence reports and resulted in the recovery of materials linked to alleged electoral offences, the Osun State Government rejected the claims, describing the operation as politically motivated.

Regardless of how the matter is eventually resolved, the incident illustrates a broader reality: public confidence in elections depends not only on INEC’s neutrality but also on the conduct of every institution involved in election security and administration.

Electoral credibility is shaped long before voters arrive at polling units. Campaign rhetoric, security operations, judicial interventions and allegations of vote buying all influence public perception before a single ballot is cast.

This perhaps explains the Commission’s increasing engagement with traditional rulers, political parties, civil society organisations and security agencies.

Although traditional rulers play no constitutional role in the conduct of elections, their moral authority often helps reduce political tension and encourages peaceful participation, particularly in communities where electoral competition can become highly polarised.

Similarly, sustained dialogue with stakeholders helps clarify procedures, reduce uncertainty and minimise avoidable disputes before election day.

As preparations gradually shift towards the 2027 General Election, these engagements may prove just as important as technological innovations.

The next nationwide election will present a far greater logistical challenge than any off-cycle governorship election. Successfully managing millions of voters across thousands of polling units will require not only efficient technology but also institutional resilience and public confidence.

Technology such as BVAS and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) Portal has undoubtedly strengthened transparency in recent elections.

Nevertheless, technology alone cannot replace trust.Trust is earned gradually through consistent improvements in logistics, transparent result management, equal treatment of political parties and strict adherence to established procedures.

Viewed from this perspective, the Commission’s early elections under Professor Amupitan should not be assessed solely by their immediate outcomes but by the institutional lessons they generate ahead of 2027.

The challenges confronting Nigeria’s electoral process remain substantial. Vote buying persists, political violence continues to threaten democratic participation, election petitions remain common and public scepticism towards institutions has not disappeared.

Even so, institutions are often judged less by the absence of challenges than by the consistency of their responses.

If the Commission sustains its emphasis on operational readiness, technological innovation, stakeholder engagement and institutional neutrality, it may approach the 2027 General Election with stronger institutional credibility than many initially anticipated.
Ultimately, however, the credibility of Nigeria’s democracy cannot rest on INEC alone.

Political parties must discourage violence and respect electoral rules. Security agencies must act professionally and impartially. Traditional institutions must continue promoting peace, while civil society organisations sustain independent oversight.

Above all, citizens must reject vote buying and defend the sanctity of the ballot.

Ajuluckukwu Brown, in his analysis said: “Technology can improve the mechanics of elections, but only collective political responsibility can safeguard the spirit of democracy.

That may well become the defining lesson of Professor Joash Amupitan’s early stewardship—and the standard by which both the Commission and Nigeria’s democratic institutions will be judged when the country heads to the polls in 2027.