By Mercy Peter
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has called for deeper national consensus and multi-sectoral collaboration to protect Nigeria’s democratic system, strengthen electoral credibility, and promote accountable governance.
He made the call on Thursday in Abuja while delivering a special address at the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room’s Annual National Stakeholders’ Forum on Elections, now in its ninth year.
Speaking on the theme “Securing Nigeria’s Democracy: Building Consensus for Credible Elections and Accountable Governance,” Prof. Amupitan described the forum as a critical platform for dialogue and collective action, especially at a time when Nigeria’s democratic institutions continue to face multiple pressures.
The INEC Chairman warned that the nation’s democracy remains vulnerable to misinformation, electoral malpractice, violence, and voter apathy. Securing the system, he stressed, demands a coordinated national effort.
“Credible elections are the non-negotiable foundation of democracy. But credibility requires all stakeholders political parties, security agencies, civil society, the media, and INEC itself to agree on and abide by the rules,” he said.
He further noted that accountable governance is only achievable when elections are genuinely credible, since legitimacy empowers citizens to hold leaders to higher standards.
Prof. Amupitan reaffirmed the central role of tools such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in enhancing transparency and credibility.
he admitted that telecommunications infrastructure continues to constrain real-time uploads of results from remote areas.
“A tool like BVAS is only as good as the network it runs on,” he emphasised, adding that INEC is deepening collaboration with the NCC and mobile network providers while exploring backup technologies to ensure greater resilience.
Prof. Amupitan described voter turnout as one of the most pressing threats to electoral legitimacy, citing the 27% turnout recorded in the 2023 general elections.
He highlighted the Commission’s recent mobilisation success in Anambra State, where proactive PVC collection drives boosted collection rates from 63.9% to 98.8% before the gubernatorial election.
“This demonstrates what is possible when we partner with civil society, community leaders, and the media,” he said.
The INEC Chairman provided the latest update on the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which concluded its first quarter on December 10.
According to him, 2,685,725 Nigerians have completed their voter registration 1,576,137 online and 1,109,588 through physical capture.
Osun leads in new registrations with 208,357 voters, followed closely by Kano, Sokoto, Imo, Borno, and Lagos.
He urged civil society and media actors to sustain nationwide mobilisation ahead of the final phase of the exercise.
INEC is also preparing for the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections, scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026, when the tenure of incumbent chairmen and councillors will expire.
Prof. Amupitan assured stakeholders that all essential information is available on the INEC website and said the Commission would address security and logistical details during technical sessions at the forum.
The Chairman condemned vote buying and inducement as corrosive to the democratic mandate, noting that INEC has intensified collaboration with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
“This fight requires collective resolve. Civil society must hold all actors accountable,” he said, urging stakeholders to remain vigilant and proactive.
Prof. Amupitan pledged that INEC will continue strengthening digital infrastructure, simplifying processes, combating connectivity challenges, and ensuring equitable voter access.
“The future of Nigerian democracy is not in doubt,” he declared. “By upholding the rule of law and the sanctity of the vote, we will build a democratic system that is both just and accountable.”
He concluded with a reminder of Simon Sinek’s words: “Leadership is not about the next election; it’s about the next generation.”
