The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stepped up preparations for the 2027 General Election, with its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, leading a readiness assessment in Gombe State to evaluate operational preparedness, address challenges and reinforce electoral officials’ commitment to neutrality and security.
The assessment brought together National Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) from the six North-East states and other senior officials for an interactive session with field officers on preparations for the forthcoming elections.
Speaking at the meeting, Amupitan said the visit was part of the Commission’s strategy to engage directly with electoral personnel, assess their readiness, identify gaps and strengthen preparations across the country.
He noted that the nationwide assessment tour began in Lagos on September 7, 2026, covering the South-West, moved to Kaduna on September 28 for the North-West, continued in Enugu on October 20 for the South-East, and arrived in Gombe on October 26 for the North-East assessment.
According to the INEC Chairman, the exercise highlights the importance of engaging officials responsible for implementing electoral plans at the grassroots.
“The true integrity of an election is not determined in the air-conditioned conference rooms of Abuja; it is forged in the field,” Amupitan said, stressing that electoral credibility depends on personnel preparedness, functional operational facilities and effective coordination of election activities.
North-East Accounts for 13.9 Million Registered Voters
Amupitan disclosed that the North-East geopolitical zone has 13,965,475 registered voters, representing 13.51 per cent of Nigeria’s total registered voter population of more than 103 million.
He said the Commission was completing its data-cleaning exercise following the conclusion of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
The assessment is part of INEC’s broader preparations to ensure that electoral personnel, equipment and operational arrangements are ready ahead of the 2027 polls.
Gombe Begins Recruitment and Technical Checks
In his welcome address, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Gombe State, Mukhtar Gajiram Umar, outlined the state’s electoral structure and ongoing preparations for the 2027 General Election.
Umar said Gombe has three senatorial districts, six federal constituencies, 24 state constituencies, 114 registration areas and 2,988 polling units.
He put the state’s registered voter population at 1,768,566 following the recently concluded CVR exercise, pending the completion of the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) process.
Umar disclosed that recruitment of ad hoc election personnel had commenced following the activation of the INECPRES portal, while training for different categories of election officials was also underway.
He added that the ICT and Voter Registration Department had begun preliminary technical checks on equipment and infrastructure required for the elections.
The checks are intended to identify technical challenges, assess the condition of election equipment and confirm the availability and functionality of the information and communication technology infrastructure needed before election day.
INEC Emphasises Security and Staff Neutrality
Addressing security concerns in the North-East, Amupitan said the safety of voters, election personnel and observers remained fundamental to the credibility of the electoral process.
He stressed that effective election planning must be supported by adequate security arrangements and noted that INEC would continue to work with relevant security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
The INEC Chairman also urged electoral officials to familiarise themselves with the Electoral Act 2026, the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2026, and relevant operational manuals.
He charged staff to uphold neutrality and professionalism, resist political pressure, financial inducement, intimidation and ethnic bias, and ensure that all electoral activities were properly documented.
The Commission’s assessment in Gombe forms part of its nationwide effort to evaluate preparedness across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones ahead of the 2027 General Election.
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