INEC Chairman Warns: Nigeria’s Democracy Cannot Survive Without Collective Action
Nigeria’s democracy stands at a defining moment — and only a united effort can protect it.
This was the central message from the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, as he addressed the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room’s Stakeholders’ Forum on Elections in Abuja on Thursday.
Speaking at the event themed “Securing Nigeria’s Democracy: Building Consensus for Credible Elections and Accountable Governance,” the INEC Chairman stressed that safeguarding democracy requires “a proactive, multi-sectoral approach” involving civil society, political actors, security agencies and the media.
Professor Amupitan highlighted the Commission’s continued reliance on technology to enhance election integrity, noting that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the IReV portal have “fundamentally redefined transparency”.
However, he admitted that network limitations, especially in remote polling units, remain a major operational hurdle.
He also raised concern over persistent voter apathy, describing it as a threat to democratic legitimacy.
Citing the Anambra experience where PVC collection rose from 63.9% to 98.8% after targeted mobilisation, he said civil society partnerships are crucial to boosting participation nationwide.
Providing updates on the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), the INEC Chairman revealed that 2,685,725 registrations have been completed across the country, with Osun, Kano, Sokoto and Imo leading the numbers.
He urged stakeholders to sustain public mobilisation as the first quarter of the CVR exercise closes.
Looking ahead, he confirmed INEC’s readiness for the 2026 FCT Area Council elections scheduled for 21st February, with all essential information already published on the Commission’s website.
On vote-buying, Professor Amupitan warned that financial inducement “derails the will of the people”, stressing that INEC, through ICCES, is strengthening intelligence and security deployment.
He called on civil society groups to intensify monitoring and hold every actor, including the Commission, accountable.
Reaffirming INEC’s commitment to credible elections, he said the Commission will continue improving its digital systems, simplifying user interfaces, and collaborating with security agencies to safeguard voters.
Quoting Simon Sinek, he concluded: “Leadership is not about the next election; it’s about the next generation.”
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