INIEC Chairman Visits Gombe Emir, Seeks Royal Intervention for Peaceful 2027 Polls

INIEC Chairman Visits Gombe Emir, Seeks Royal Intervention for Peaceful 2027 Polls
#NigeriaDecides2027

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, called on electoral officials in Gombe State to intensify preparations for the 2027 general election, stressing the need for professionalism, neutrality, transparency and effective logistics.

Prof Amupitan made the call during a readiness assessment visit to Gombe State, where he led National Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) from across the North-East zone and other senior officials of the commission to assess facilities, engage staff and review preparations for the forthcoming polls.

Addressing staff at the INEC state office in Gombe, the chairman said the presidential and National Assembly elections were scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections would hold on February 6, 2027.

He urged staff to regard the assessment as a call to greater commitment, noting that the commission had limited time to prepare for the elections.
“The readiness assessment is to assess what we have on ground,” Amupitan said, adding that ongoing renovations in Gombe and other local government areas were part of efforts to improve the commission’s operational capacity and election logistics.

He charged electoral officers to discharge their statutory responsibilities in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and INEC’s guidelines and regulations.
According to him, the commission must remain impartial and ensure that the 2027 elections are free, fair, transparent and credible.

“We are not candidates of our own, but we will do everything possible to conduct a free, fair, inclusive and credible election come 2027,” he said.

The INEC chairman also emphasised the importance of ongoing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collection, urging electoral officials to mobilise eligible voters, particularly those in local government areas, to collect their cards ahead of the elections.

He described PVC collection as a right rather than a favour and called on staff to take public enlightenment seriously to ensure that eligible Nigerians were not discouraged from participating in the electoral process.

Prof. Amupitan disclosed that some non-sensitive election materials had already been received, while additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines had been ordered, with delivery expected within the week.

He said the commission was also working on storage facilities for the equipment and had conducted an audit of existing BVAS machines nationwide following the challenges experienced during the 2023 general election.

The chairman noted that technology would remain central to voter accreditation and the transmission of election results, adding that the commission was taking steps to strengthen its operational processes ahead of the polls.

“This period, nobody goes on leave again. You should commit your time to support your REC, your administrative secretary, your heads of department and the EOs to ensure that the election is seamless and very successful,” he said.As part of the assessment visit, the INEC chairman and his delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Gombe, HRH Dr. Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, CFR, at his palace to seek the support, prayers and cooperation of traditional institutions ahead of the 2027 general election.
Prof.Amupitan described the visit as an important part of the commission’s consultations with traditional rulers across the country, noting that their influence at the grassroots could help promote peaceful participation and public confidence in the electoral process.

The chairman urged the Emir to mobilise residents to collect their PVCs, encourage eligible citizens to vote and appeal to political leaders to conduct their campaigns peacefully.
He acknowledged the security challenges facing parts of the country, saying INEC was working with security agencies, including the police, the Office of the National Security Adviser, service chiefs and other relevant organisations, to mitigate threats to voters and election infrastructure.

In his response, the Emir of Gombe, HRH Dr. Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, CFR welcomed the INEC chairman and his delegation, describing the visit as timely as preparations for the 2027 general election gathered momentum.
He acknowledged the enormous responsibility entrusted to INEC in safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic process, noting that credible elections required careful planning, professionalism, impartiality, transparency and public cooperation.

The Emir assured the commission that the traditional institution in Gombe State and the wider North-East was prepared to support INEC in a non-partisan manner to promote peaceful and credible elections.
He also pledged support for efforts to discourage electoral violence, inflammatory rhetoric and misinformation, while encouraging citizens to participate peacefully in the democratic process.Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Gombe State, Mukhtar Gajiram Umar, welcomed Amupitan and his delegation, describing the visit as an important opportunity to review preparations and strengthen the commission’s work in the state.

The INEC chairman and his team also visited the commission’s office in Gombe Local Government Area to assess its level of preparedness for the elections.
The delegation subsequently inspected the zonal store as part of efforts to evaluate the commission’s facilities and logistical arrangements.