The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced its National Zonal Physical Assessment Tour in the South-East as part of preparations for the 2027 General Election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this on Monday in Enugu during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council and South-East Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Igwe Sir Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu.
Amupitan, who led National Commissioners and senior management officials on the visit, said the tour would assess field operations and personnel preparedness down to the Registration Area (Ward) level.
He said previous electoral exercises under his leadership, including governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states, an election into the Federal Capital Territory Area Councils and 16 bye-elections nationwide, had helped the Commission improve logistics, polling unit opening times and technology deployment.
The INEC chairman reaffirmed the election dates, stating that the presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections were scheduled for February 6, 2027.
He urged traditional rulers to mobilise registered voters who were yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), sensitise their communities against voter apathy and vote-buying, and discourage electoral violence.
“While INEC manages the technical and administrative aspects of elections, the moral authority to ensure peaceful voting resides within our traditional institutions,” he said.
Amupitan added that the Commission was working with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to promote peaceful elections.
He disclosed that security collaboration had led to the recent arrest of alleged kingpins behind the kidnapping of National Youth Service Corps members, who serve as part of INEC’s ad hoc election personnel.
“The DSS will arraign those behind these evil acts within the week,” he said.
Reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to neutrality, transparency and procedural fairness, Amupitan assured voters that their votes would be accurately reflected in the final results.
“Every valid vote cast by Ndi Enugu and citizens across the South-East will count and be accurately reflected in the final election results,” he said.
Responding, Asadu, the Ogadagidi I of Edem-An Ogwugwu Ancient Kingdom in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, pledged the support of traditional rulers for INEC ahead of the 2027 elections.
He assured the Commission that traditional rulers would encourage registered voters who were yet to collect their PVCs to obtain them in their communities.
