The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is working with the Nigeria Police Force to identify and arrest perpetrators of pre-election violence, particularly in states affected by insecurity, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during a panel session at the sixth edition of the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers in Owerri, Imo State.
The conference was themed “Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections.”
According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, Amupitan identified security as one of the commission’s major concerns ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said insecurity in some parts of the country could prevent eligible Nigerians from participating in the electoral process.
“There are still some states in Nigeria that you have a lot of insecurities around, and it’s a major source of concern for us. Because that can be a source of disenfranchisement of Nigerians, and we don’t want any Nigerian to be disenfranchised,” he said.
Amupitan said INEC was liaising with the police, the lead agency for election security, to develop strategies for conducting elections in areas considered volatile.
The INEC Chairman has previously stressed the need for stronger coordination between the commission and security agencies ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly in identifying potential flashpoints and protecting voters, electoral officials and election materials.
VIDEO NEWS:It’s Police That Will Prosecute Electoral Offenders, Not INEC – Prof. Amupitan pic.twitter.com/VJCn7hcE49
— The Compass Hub (@thecompasshub) September 23, 2026
INEC Chairman Warns Against Personality-Based Politics
Amupitan also expressed concern over what he described as the growing culture of personality-based politics and intolerance among political actors.
He urged political parties and candidates to focus their campaigns on issues and policies rather than attacking their opponents.
The INEC Chairman said peaceful participation by political actors and voters would be critical to creating a secure environment for the 2027 general elections.
INEC has already released the timetable for the 2027 elections and has called on political parties, candidates and other stakeholders to shun violence and inflammatory rhetoric throughout the electoral process.
