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The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has called on staff of the commission to embrace professionalism, integrity and self-sacrifice as Muslims across the country mark Eid-el-Kabir.
In his 2026 Eid message issued on Wednesday, Amupitan congratulated Muslim staff of the commission and said the festival represents deeper values of obedience, devotion and selflessness that should guide both personal conduct and public service.
2026 EID-EL-KABIR MESSAGE FROM THE HONOURABLE CHAIRMAN, INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC)
A SEASON OF SACRIFICE, FIDELITY AND DEVOTION. pic.twitter.com/YaIsYTEXel
— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) May 27, 2026
He said the spiritual lessons of the season align strongly with the demands of election administration, noting that managing Nigeria’s electoral process requires discipline, endurance and a strong sense of duty.
Amupitan stated that electoral work often demands significant personal sacrifice, including long hours and time away from family, stressing that staff must remain committed despite operational pressures.
He urged personnel to remain firmly guided by constitutional provisions, the Electoral Act and internal codes of conduct, adding that integrity and compliance remain non-negotiable in the discharge of their responsibilities.
“For us as election managers, the essence of this festival resonates with a very clear, professional urgency.
“The institutional assignment committed to our care by the Nigerian people requires an unmatched level of personal sacrifice and steadfastness. Managing our democracy is a high-stakes, around-the-clock duty that frequently demands long hours away from our families and comfort zones,” he said.
“Just as the patriarch Abraham demonstrated unflinching obedience to a higher call, we too must remain resolutely compliant with the constitutional guardrails, the Electoral Act, and our administrative codes of conduct,” he stated.
According to him, the commission is currently at a critical operational phase, following recent field assessments in Ekiti State ahead of upcoming off-cycle governorship elections and preparations for the 2027 general elections.
He said the lessons of Eid-el-Kabir should reflect in the commission’s operational approach, particularly in ensuring precision, efficiency and accountability in electoral logistics and execution.
“This year’s celebration meets the Commission at a vital operational turning point.
“Following our highly successful field engagements and readiness assessments in Ekiti, we are now on the immediate frontline of critical off-cycle governorship polls, even as we systematically
“The lessons of Eid-el-Kabir must therefore serve as the bedrock of our current deployment strategies. Compliance, precision, and surgical execution are non-negotiable standards as we work to eliminate logistical friction and secure the absolute trust of the electorate,” Amupitan said.
Amupitan also assured staff that the INEC remains committed to improving their welfare, including stronger support systems, security arrangements and working conditions to match the demands of their duties.
He encouraged staff to use the festive period to renew their dedication to national service and strengthen efforts toward building a credible electoral institution.
The INEC chairman wished staff and Nigerians a peaceful and joyful Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
“As you share the blessings of this season with your loved ones and the underprivileged, let us re-consecrate our hands to the service of our nation.
“Let our collective sacrifices build an electoral umpire that remains completely beyond reproach, fiercely independent, and a source of enduring pride for all Nigerians,” he said.
“I wish you all a peaceful, rewarding, and joyful celebration. Barkah da Sallah. God bless our dedicated staff, God bless INEC, God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he added.
