Zaria, 27 September 2026
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan SAN, visited the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli CFR, as part of activities ahead of the commission’s planned interactive meeting with staff and readiness assessment for the 2027 general election at the zonal level.
The chairman was accompanied by national commissioners, the acting director general of the Electoral Institute, his chief press secretary, chief technical assistant, chief of staff and other special aides, as well as directors of the commission, to the palace of the 19th Emir of Zazzau, where he described the visit as an important stakeholder engagement ahead of the 2027 electoral activities.
The visit formed part of the commission’s stakeholder engagement as it intensifies preparations for the 2027 elections.
The INEC chairman said the commission considered traditional institutions important stakeholders in the electoral process because of their influence and grassroots reach.
He said elections were fundamentally about the social contract between citizens and those entrusted with public office, stressing that public trust remained critical to the success of democracy.
According to him, INEC was commencing its preparations early because of the size and complexity of conducting elections in Nigeria.
He said the commission had moved away from last minute preparations and was testing, auditing and strengthening its operational systems well ahead of the 2027 polls.
The INEC chairman told the emir that the commission was committed to neutrality, fairness and transparency.
“We have no candidates, we have no political party, we have no interest other than the sovereign will of the people of Nigeria,” he said.
By John James
