The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a strong warning over emerging threats to Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring that credible polls are inseparable from national security.
Speaking at the 2nd Annual Lecture of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies (AANISS), INEC Chairman, Joash O. Amupitan, stressed that elections and security must no longer be treated as separate concerns but as “two sides of the same coin of national stability.”
He warned that Nigeria is entering a critical phase following the release of the 2027 election timetable, noting that the scheduled presidential and National Assembly elections on January 16, 2027, and governorship polls on February 6, 2027, now represent not just political milestones but “a security trigger.”
Amupitan identified a “sophisticated triad” of threats confronting the electoral process, including social media volatility, AI-driven disinformation, and Foreign Information Manipulation (FIMI), compounded by logistical and security challenges such as insurgency and communal conflicts.
“Without a secure environment, the sovereign will of the people is not just threatened; it is silenced,” he stated.
He further emphasized that restoring public trust in elections is critical to preventing unrest, warning that declining voter turnout—from 53 percent in 2011 to 26 percent in 2023—poses a serious security risk by creating a vacuum that could be exploited by destabilising actors.
The INEC chairman highlighted the Commission’s deployment of technological tools such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) as key safeguards against electoral fraud. He also called for stronger inter-agency collaboration through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
Earlier in his welcome address, President of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies, Mike Ejiofor, described the lecture’s theme—“Credible Elections and National Security in Nigeria”—as both timely and essential.
Ejiofor noted the absence of key security chiefs, including the National Security Adviser and the Inspector General of Police, attributing it to pressing national assignments, but expressed optimism that they would participate in subsequent engagements.
He commended the strong turnout of stakeholders from across government, security agencies, and the electoral body, stressing that flawed elections often lead to instability and violence.
“When elections are credible, they confer legitimacy. When they are flawed, they breed discontent and insecurity,” he said.
The event brought together top figures from the executive, legislature, judiciary, and security community, underscoring a shared commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy. Also in attendance were National Commissioners, aides to the INEC Chairman, as well as Directors of the Commission.
