The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has intensified preparations for the 2027 General Election, with its Chairman, Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, directing officials to identify and close operational gaps ahead of the polls.

Amupitan gave the directive on Monday in Kaduna during the North-West Zonal Interactive Meeting with Staff and Readiness Assessment for the 2027 General Election.

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The meeting forms part of INEC’s six-zone national readiness assessment aimed at evaluating the Commission’s preparedness, identifying challenges affecting its field operations and developing practical solutions ahead of the 2027 elections.

Declaring the North-West zonal engagement open, Amupitan said the exercise was aimed at strengthening the foundations of the country’s electoral process and ensuring that avoidable weaknesses do not undermine the credibility of the 2027 elections.

He stressed that the success of any election is largely determined at the grassroots, particularly at the Local Government Areas, Registration Area Centres and polling units where electoral officials interact directly with voters.

“The true success of any election is not decided solely in the meeting rooms of our headquarters in Abuja. It is decided in the field,” Amupitan said.

The INEC chairman urged staff to use the engagement to present practical challenges confronting election administration in their respective areas and work with the Commission’s headquarters to develop solutions before election day.

He said INEC was building on lessons from recent elections as it prepares for the larger national assignment in 2027.

Amupitan also warned electoral officials against partisan conduct and administrative negligence, stressing that neutrality and professionalism among field personnel would be critical to maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.

As part of its preparations for the 2027 elections, the Commission is also scheduled to commence Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) collection on October 9.

A Political Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, Ibrahim Kabiru Masari, has dismissed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s ambition to contest the 2027 presidential election, describing it as a joke.

Masari made the remark while addressing members of the Jigawa State Academics Forum.

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According to him, Atiku’s political ambition would not be achieved through what he described as desperation, insisting that the former vice president was aware of the situation.

“Even Atiku himself knows he is just joking and kidding,” Masari said.

The presidential aide also described the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the dominant political party in the country and framed the 2027 election as a choice between continuing the Tinubu administration’s programmes and returning to the opposition.

Masari highlighted infrastructure development, economic diversification, security and poverty reduction as areas the Tinubu administration was prioritising.

He also commended the Jigawa State Academics Forum for endorsing President Tinubu and Governor Umar Namadi for another term.

On education, Masari said the Federal Government was giving the sector priority, adding that the university academic calendar had stabilised and students were benefiting from federal student loans.

His comments come as political parties and opposition figures intensify preparations for the 2027 general election.

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should be questioned if there were any irregularities in the conduct of the 2023 presidential election.

Sule made the remarks during an appearance on Mic On Podcast, hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, an Arise TV anchor, while responding to questions about allegations surrounding the 2023 presidential election and INEC’s handling of the process.

The governor noted that INEC was the body that conducted and declared the election, saying: “INEC declared that I won the election in 2023. INEC that determined the election.”

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Speaking about claims that both Labour Party’s Peter Obi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar believed they won the 2023 presidential election, Sule questioned how the APC could have manipulated the election against both candidates.

He said: “So who won the election between Peter Obi and Atiku? Take President Asiwaju out. So who now rigged each other between the PDP and then the Labour Party? Because you are saying that Peter Obi said he won, Atiku said he won—”

On concerns over glitches on INEC’s Result Viewing (IReV) portal during the presidential election and allegations that “something fishy” may have happened, Sule said INEC should provide answers if there were any irregularities.

He stated: “Well, if something fishy went down, it is INEC herself that would be asked that question.”

Sule also referred to subsequent elections conducted under the current INEC leadership, including the Osun and Anambra governorship elections.

According to him, APC lost the Osun election without similar complaints, while the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) won in Anambra.

He said: “You know, and so far, all the elections… he held the election in Osun, and they didn’t say there was anything wrong with that one, because APC lost. We had an election in Anambra, there was no problem about that one, because APGA won.”

“You know, so it is anywhere APC won now that there is a problem. It doesn’t… life doesn’t work that way.” the governor added.