The exercises demonstrated the importance of effective logistics, functional technology and administrative discipline in delivering transparent and credible elections
By Mmesoma Onwuka
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will draw extensively from the lessons of the recent Osun State governorship election as it prepares for the 2027 General Election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this on Monday, September 7, 2026, in Lagos while declaring open a two-day Strategic Operational Workshop for the Commission’s Administrative Secretaries from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Amupitan said the workshop was designed as an election-focused “operational boot camp” to assess INEC’s preparedness and strengthen its state-level administrative structure ahead of the 2027 polls.
According to him, the Commission has reached a critical stage in its preparations and can no longer afford inconsistencies in administrative procedures or varying interpretations of responsibilities across its state offices.
“We can no longer afford fragmented interpretations of administrative duties or disjointed operational practices from state to state,” Amupitan said.
He explained that the workshop was aimed at eliminating guesswork, closing administrative gaps and ensuring that officials operate under standardised national protocols.
Osun election offers lessons for 2027
The INEC chairman said recent off-cycle elections, particularly the Osun governorship election, had provided valuable lessons that could be converted into operational standards for the nationwide 2027 elections.
He said the exercises demonstrated the importance of effective logistics, functional technology and administrative discipline in delivering transparent and credible elections.
Amupitan, however, acknowledged that a single-state election operates in a more controlled environment than a nationwide general election involving 36 states and the FCT.
He therefore stressed the need for successful operational models to be replicated and adapted across the country.
INEC strengthens state-level operations
Amupitan described Administrative Secretaries as the principal technical, operational and administrative anchors of INEC at the state level.
While Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) serve as the political and institutional heads of the Commission in the states, he said Administrative Secretaries are responsible for the day-to-day running of state offices, administrative continuity and key operational processes.
He noted that the effectiveness of their work could determine whether election activities begin as scheduled at polling units.
Five areas INEC will prioritise
The chairman said the workshop would focus on five critical areas as part of preparations for the 2027 elections.
These include Continuous Voter Registration and Permanent Voter’s Card distribution, logistics and election material management, electoral technology, human resources and ad hoc staff optimisation, as well as general administration and financial compliance.
On technology, Amupitan listed systems including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), eEC&A, Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC), CROMS, IOMIS and PFRAS.
He said particular attention would also be paid to the recruitment, vetting and technology competency of ad hoc election personnel.
INEC unveils real-time election readiness tracker
A major innovation announced at the workshop is the proposed Administrative Secretary Master Operational Tracker.
Amupitan said the standardised Excel-based system would be connected to the Commission’s EMSC dashboard and Election Project Plan.
The system is expected to provide INEC headquarters, RECs and supervising National Commissioners with real-time information on the level of preparedness in each state.
It will monitor critical areas including election material distribution, training of ad hoc personnel and other state-level preparations.
The chairman said the initiative was designed to replace reactive “panic” with proactive management and would also serve as a permanent onboarding framework for future Administrative Secretaries.
Amupitan warns against political interference
The INEC chairman warned Administrative Secretaries against compromising institutional neutrality or allowing shortcuts in the discharge of their responsibilities.
“If you tolerate shortcuts, shortcuts will multiply. If you tolerate political interference, neutrality will deteriorate,” he said.
He urged the officials to make documentation, punctuality, preparedness and compliance central to their administrative culture.
Amupitan also directed them to report operational challenges promptly rather than conceal them, saying early escalation would enable the Commission to tackle problems before they develop into electoral crises.