The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, has warned that assaults on electoral officers, together with members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) deployed for election duties, will entice the total weight of the legislation.
Amupitan gave the warning on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in the course of the South-South Zonal Interactive Meeting with Staff and Readiness Assessment forward of the 2027 General Election.
He stated the Commission was working with safety businesses below the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to strengthen safety preparations and shield voters, electoral personnel and election supplies.
The INEC chairman harassed that anybody who threatens or assaults election officers could be held accountable in accordance with the legislation.
He additionally charged electoral officers throughout the South-South geopolitical zone to uphold impartiality, self-discipline and accountability, warning that partisanship, negligence, absenteeism and monetary impropriety would entice disciplinary measures.
According to him, the zonal readiness evaluation was a part of the Commission’s field-based method to evaluating operational preparedness, figuring out gaps and strengthening service supply forward of the 2027 elections.
He stated INEC was drawing classes from its conduct of governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states, FCT Area Council elections and 16 by-elections to enhance preparations for the nationwide train.
Amupitan disclosed that the South-South zone had 15,823,550 registered voters, with Rivers State accounting for 3,736,434, stressing that no eligible voter needs to be disenfranchised due to administrative negligence or logistical failures.
On electoral know-how, he stated the Commission was getting ready its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), together with 57,000 newly procured gadgets, whereas auditing its digital end result administration methods to strengthen transparency in end result transmission by way of the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
Addressing considerations over suspicious pictures within the preliminary voters’ register revealed on-line, the INEC chairman stated the Commission was analyzing the data and would take corrective measures primarily based on verified findings.
He urged Nigerians to take part within the ongoing show, claims and objections course of forward of the publication of the ultimate voters’ register scheduled for December 15, 2026.
On the logistical challenges going through the area, significantly its creeks, coastal settlements and riverine communities, Amupitan disclosed that INEC had concluded a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maritime Transporters Union to facilitate the well timed and safe motion of election personnel and supplies.
The chairman additionally highlighted measures to enhance employees welfare, together with the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (CEMBSS), enhanced salaries, hazard and subject allowances, in addition to a 150 per cent improve in month-to-month allocations for state places of work, efficient July 1, 2026.
Earlier, the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) described the assembly as an necessary alternative to evaluate the Commission’s preparedness and tackle excellent operational challenges forward of the 2027 elections.
The REC stated credible elections required satisfactory logistics, skilled personnel, practical know-how, efficient safety coordination and sustained voter training.
He known as for stronger collaboration between INEC headquarters and state places of work, in addition to inclusive participation by girls, younger folks and individuals with disabilities.
In her presentation, the Director of Planning and Monitoring, Mrs. Helen Ajayi, stated the assembly was designed to evaluate the preparedness of the six South-South states, determine operational and logistical challenges and assessment departmental progress in the direction of the 2027 General Election.
She stated the evaluation would cowl election safety, personnel coaching, voter training, stakeholder engagement, voter registration, Permanent Voter Card assortment, info and communication know-how, human sources and election operations.
Ajayi additionally emphasised the significance of Electoral Risk Management in figuring out potential flashpoints and supporting preventive measures and safety coordination.
She urged Electoral Officers and different subject personnel to cooperate with the evaluation groups, stressing the necessity for grassroots mobilisation and the involvement of conventional rulers in encouraging eligible residents to take part within the elections.
Representatives of the six South-South states additionally introduced studies on their ranges of preparedness, highlighting operational progress, excellent duties and challenges requiring consideration.
The assembly featured shows by administrators and representatives of INEC departments, together with Voter Education and Publicity, Voter Registry, Information and Communication Technology, Human Resources and Electoral Operations.
Amupitan formally declared the assembly open, urging electoral officers to show integrity, professionalism and dedication to delivering credible, clear and inclusive elections in 2027.
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