Abuja: Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has described Saturday’s by-elections in Gombe, Kano, Bauchi, and Delta states as crucial operational benchmarks for testing the nation’s electoral infrastructure ahead of the 2027 general elections. Amupitan stated this at the INEC headquarters in Abuja while presiding over operations at the commission’s National Situation Room for the by-elections.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, quoted Amupitan as saying that no electoral contest should be dismissed as trivial or routine. The legislative by-elections were held in the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe State, Dawakin Kudu State Constituency in Kano State, Sakwa and Disina State Constituencies in Bauchi State, and Udu State Constituency in Delta.
Amupitan noted that every off-cycle poll served as an important dress rehearsal for nationwide elections. “These four by-elections provide indispensable operational lessons for the commission as we systematically chart our roadmap toward the 2027 general election,” he stated. He emphasized the significance of viewing every election as a critical component of broader preparations for the 2027 general elections, allowing for continuous auditing of logistics frameworks, stress-testing of technological deployment, and evaluation of administrative field readiness.
Amupitan reassured Nigerians of the commission’s resolve to uphold electoral integrity, noting that operational bottlenecks encountered before polling were swiftly identified and resolved. “Our primary mandate in the Situation Room is monitoring and proactive crisis resolution,” he said, highlighting the commission’s ability to address any administrative or field challenges effectively.
He expressed gratitude to everyone present in the situation room, especially the technical team, for ensuring seamless monitoring of the multi-state exercise and assessing field performance without any hitch. The INEC chairman, accompanied by national commissioners and senior management officials, monitored the by-elections as operational reports arrived from the field.