INEC Warns Insecurity Could Disrupt Elections in Some Areas

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed concern that worsening insecurity in some parts of Nigeria could disrupt the 2027 general elections or make it difficult to conduct the polls in affected communities.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, raised the concern on Tuesday in Gombe State while speaking at the North-East Zonal Interactive Staff Meeting and Operational Readiness Assessment for the 2027 elections.

Amupitan described insecurity as a major challenge to the organisation of credible elections and called for urgent, coordinated action by security agencies to protect the electoral process.

He said he planned to meet with the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Army Staff and other senior security officials after returning to Abuja to discuss measures for addressing existing threats and creating a safer environment for the elections.

The INEC chairman said the commission would take a proactive approach to electoral security, stressing the need to identify and address potential threats before they escalate and affect preparations or voting.

He added that INEC was strengthening its cooperation with security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services and the Armed Forces.

The collaboration is being coordinated through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), which brings relevant institutions together to improve election security planning and implementation.

According to Amupitan, the joint effort is intended to strengthen intelligence-sharing, improve coordination among security agencies and ensure that personnel are adequately prepared for their responsibilities before and during the polls.

The concerns come as INEC intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections, with insecurity posing potential challenges to the movement of electoral officials, transportation of sensitive election materials and access to polling units in affected areas.

Persistent security threats could also discourage voters from participating in the elections if they fear attacks, intimidation or violence in their communities.

Amupitan stressed that close cooperation between INEC and security agencies would be essential to ensuring that Nigerians could exercise their democratic rights without fear.

He said early intervention, appropriate deployment of security personnel and a coordinated response to emerging threats would be necessary to protect the credibility, inclusiveness and peaceful conduct of the 2027 elections.