The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has said the forthcoming governorship elections in Ekiti State and Osun State will serve as a crucial test of the commission’s ongoing reforms ahead of the 2027 general election.
INEC had earlier fixed the Ekiti governorship election for June 20, 2026, while that of Osun State is scheduled for August 8, 2026.
In an Eid-el-Fitr message conveyed through his Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, Amupitan called on INEC staff nationwide to reflect the discipline and values of Ramadan in their professional conduct as the commission prepares for the off-cycle elections.
He described the end of the fasting period as “a victory of the spirit over self” and a defining moment for the electoral body as it gears up for key electoral milestones.
“The lessons of Ramadan — patience, integrity, and empathy — are the very virtues we require as we approach the critical milestones of 2026,” the INEC chairman stated.
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Amupitan emphasized that professionalism and discipline must remain non-negotiable, urging staff to adopt a zero-tolerance stance on misconduct in order to curb voter apathy and rebuild public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
Since assuming office on October 23, 2025, the INEC boss said he has initiated sweeping reforms aimed at modernising the commission and strengthening its institutional capacity.
He noted that INEC is now operating under the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026, which mandates stricter compliance with technological innovations, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
According to him, the upcoming elections in Ekiti and Osun will provide an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of these reforms in real-time.
“The upcoming Ekiti and Osun governorship elections serve as the immediate litmus test for these reforms and the ultimate test before the 2027 general election,” he said.
Amupitan further disclosed that with a workforce exceeding 14,000 personnel, the commission is placing strong emphasis on internal discipline and improved welfare, noting that a motivated workforce remains critical in resisting external political pressure.
The INEC chairman expressed optimism that the reforms, if effectively implemented, would strengthen electoral credibility and lay a solid foundation for the successful conduct of future elections in the country.