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The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has warned that rising insecurity across Nigeria could jeopardise the conduct of free and fair elections in 2027.
Amupitan said this on Wednesday during a meeting in Abuja with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
He noted that longstanding issues such as electoral malpractice, violence, and vote trading continue to weaken public confidence in the process, stressing that they also pose broader risks to national security.
He emphasised the need for urgent and coordinated action to address these challenges.
The INEC chairman cautioned that the scale of insecurity across the country poses a grave threat to credible elections. He said comprehensive security risk assessments must be carried out ahead of the polls to identify potential flashpoints and guide the deployment of strategies that would protect voters, officials, and electoral materials.
“In Nigeria, our electoral system has placed numerous challenges over the years, ranging from malpractices to threats of violence, vote trading that undermines the confidence of the electorate,” Amupitan said.
“These challenges not only affect the outcome of our elections, but also pose significant risks to our national security. Thus, it is imperative that we address these concerns with utmost seriousness and resolve. In this regard, I would like to emphasise the importance of the proactive security measures.
“The scale of insecurity across the various parts of Nigeria presents a threat to the conduct of the fair election. It is essential that we carry out total security risk analysis ahead of the election and this will enable us to identify potential flashpoints and deploy appropriate strategies to mitigate risks, thereby safeguarding voters, electoral officials and the integrity of the electoral process,” he added.
He stated that closer collaboration between INEC and security agencies, particularly the police, is essential, given their central role in election security. He also pointed to ongoing political activities, including party congresses and upcoming primaries under the Electoral Act 2026, as factors that heighten the need for proactive planning.
Amupitan further listed the upcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, alongside several by-elections, describing them as key tests of Nigeria’s democratic process.
On humanitarian concerns, he stressed that internally displaced persons must not be excluded from voting. He said the commission is working to ensure that citizens in IDP camps, as well as persons with disabilities, are able to participate fully in the electoral process, calling for special attention to their needs.
“I also want to draw attention to several IDP camps that are scattered all over Nigeria. Let me say that it is their right to also vote, and they must not be disenfranchised.
“As the electoral body, we are doing everything to ensure that all those in IDP camps are given the conducive environment to exercise their franchise, and also the people with disabilities. So therefore, we commend all these people, categories of persons, persons in IDP camps, as well as persons with disabilities to the IG for special attention and care,” he said.
In response, Disu said the police would adopt intelligence-driven deployment and preventive strategies to tackle threats such as political violence, arms proliferation, cyber interference, and attacks on electoral infrastructure.
He revealed that nationwide threat assessments and intelligence mapping had already begun, with plans to collaborate closely with other security agencies to secure personnel, materials, and facilities.
The police chief also pledged firm enforcement of electoral laws, stating that offences such as vote-buying, ballot-snatching, voter intimidation, and destruction of materials would be met with arrest and prosecution.
He said, “I assure you that the police will enforce electoral laws firmly and professionally. I want to repeat that again. We will ensure that we enforce electoral laws firmly and professionally.
“I want to emphasise that individuals involved in ballot matching, vote buying, voter intimidation, destruction of electoral materials, violent destruction of polls or attack on electoral officials will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the laws.”
He added that the police would prioritise professionalism, inter-agency coordination, and real-time intelligence sharing to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process, while also ensuring provisions are made for displaced persons and vulnerable groups.
