INEC DEEPENS SOUTH-SOUTH READINESS ASSESSMENT, SEEKS TRADITIONAL INSTITUTION’S SUPPORT FOR 2027 POLLS

INEC DEEPENS SOUTH-SOUTH READINESS ASSESSMENT, SEEKS TRADITIONAL INSTITUTION’S SUPPORT FOR 2027 POLLS

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has intensified preparations for the 2027 General Election through an operational readiness assessment of the South-South geopolitical zone, with a renewed call for traditional institutions to support voter mobilisation, peaceful participation and electoral security.

The INEC Chairman, Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, made the call during a courtesy visit to the palace of Eze (Barr.) U. Isaiah Elikwu, JP, Eze Epara Rebisi XII, First Son of Rebisi, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as part of the Commission’s readiness assessment and stakeholder engagement in the zone.

Professor Amupitan emphasised the strategic role of traditional rulers in strengthening democratic participation, noting that credible elections require sustained engagement with communities where citizens exercise their constitutional right to vote.

He appealed to the royal father and the Council of Chiefs to mobilise eligible voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), participate in the 2027 General Election and support efforts to ensure peaceful, free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent electoral processes.

The Chairman explained that engaging traditional institutions formed part of the Commission’s broader strategy to strengthen grassroots collaboration, promote peaceful coexistence and build public confidence in the electoral process.

Highlighting INEC’s operational preparedness, Professor Amupitan cited the successful conduct of off-cycle governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States, as well as the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections and 16 by-elections during his tenure. He said the Commission was building on these experiences to improve operational efficiency, strengthen logistics and ensure the timely deployment of election materials to polling units.

On electoral technology, he disclosed that INEC was working to enhance the efficiency of its processes, including the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). He also highlighted plans to reduce the voter threshold for BVAS deployment at polling units to facilitate smoother accreditation and voting.

Professor Amupitan urged eligible voters to take advantage of the display of the voters’ register to identify and correct errors before the production of the final register. He stressed that collecting PVCs remained essential to enabling eligible citizens to exercise their franchise.

The INEC Chairman also warned against the growing threat of misinformation and disinformation, particularly through social media and artificial intelligence. He urged traditional rulers to encourage their subjects to verify information before sharing it, noting that false narratives could undermine public confidence and discourage electoral participation.

On election security, he reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to working with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to protect voters, electoral officials and ad hoc personnel, including members of the National Youth Service Corps deployed for election duties.

He noted that intelligence-sharing and coordinated security arrangements were critical to addressing emerging threats and overcoming security challenges, particularly in difficult and riverine communities.
In his response, Eze (Barr.) U. Isaiah Elikwu, JP, Eze Epara Rebisi XII, welcomed the INEC delegation and expressed support for the Commission’s preparations for the 2027 General Election.

The traditional ruler assured the Commission of the traditional institution’s willingness to support grassroots mobilisation, particularly by encouraging eligible residents to collect their PVCs and participate in the electoral process.

He urged INEC to remain firm, fair and impartial in discharging its responsibilities and expressed confidence in the Commission’s capacity to deliver credible elections. He also pledged to work with fellow traditional rulers to promote voter education, peaceful participation and public confidence in the electoral process.