The Independent National Electoral Commission has raised concerns over growing threats to Nigeria’s electoral process, warning that credible elections cannot be achieved without adequate security ahead of the 2027 general polls.
Speaking at the 2nd Annual Lecture of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash O. Amupitan SAN, said the country must begin to treat elections and security as interconnected priorities.
He described both elements as “two sides of the same coin of national stability,” stressing that the recently released election timetable signals a critical period for the nation.
According to him, the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, alongside the governorship polls fixed for February 6, 2027, represent more than routine political exercises.
Amupitan warned that the timeline could act as “a security trigger” if emerging risks are not effectively managed.
He identified what he called a “sophisticated triad” of threats confronting the electoral system, including social media volatility, artificial intelligence driven disinformation, and Foreign Information Manipulation.
These challenges, he noted, are further complicated by existing security concerns such as insurgency and communal conflicts.
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“Without a secure environment, the sovereign will of the people is not just threatened; it is silenced,” he said.
The INEC chairman also raised alarm over declining voter turnout, noting a drop from 53 per cent in 2011 to 26 per cent in 2023.
He warned that low participation could create openings for destabilising actors and undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
Amupitan pointed to the use of technology, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing Portal, as key safeguards against electoral fraud.
He also called for stronger collaboration among security agencies through the Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
Earlier, AANISS President, Barr. Mike Ejiofor, said the lecture’s theme was both timely and necessary.
“When elections are credible, they confer legitimacy. When they are flawed, they breed discontent and insecurity,” he said.