The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Amupitan, has said the upcoming governorship elections in Ekiti State and Osun State will serve as a critical test of the commission’s electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan made the remark in an Eid-el-Fitr message addressed to staff of the electoral commission, where he emphasized the importance of discipline, transparency, and integrity in the conduct of future elections.
The electoral body had earlier fixed June 20, 2026 for the Ekiti governorship election and August 8, 2026 for the Osun governorship poll, both considered off-cycle elections that will shape preparations for the next nationwide elections.
In the message released by Adedayo Oketola, Amupitan urged INEC staff to apply the values learned during the Ramadan fasting period—such as patience, integrity, and empathy—to their duties within the commission.
According to him, the conclusion of the Ramadan fast represents a moment of reflection and renewed commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process.
The INEC chairman noted that since assuming office on October 23, 2025, he has initiated reforms aimed at modernising the commission and restoring institutional efficiency.
He said the commission is currently operating under the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, which introduces stricter compliance with technological innovations such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
Amupitan added that with a workforce of more than 14,000 staff, the commission is prioritising discipline and improved working conditions to ensure that officials remain resistant to external political pressure.
He stressed that the successful conduct of the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections would help rebuild public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system and demonstrate the effectiveness of INEC’s ongoing reforms before the 2027 general elections.
Political observers say the two off-cycle elections will be closely monitored as indicators of the commission’s readiness to deliver credible and transparent polls nationwide.
