We Can Transmit Results In 2027, But No Election Is 100% Perfect – INEC Chair

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has assured Nigerians that the commission has the capacity to electronically transmit election results in 2027.

However, he cautioned that a “100 per cent perfect election” cannot be guaranteed.

Amupitan gave the assurance on Sunday during the Citizens’ Town Hall programme aired live on Channels Television. The programme was themed, ‘Electoral Act 2026: What it means for your votes and the 2027 elections.’

Appealing to Nigerians to moderate their expectations, the INEC boss stressed that while the commission would strive to deliver its best, perfection remains unrealistic.

“Let me just appeal to Nigerians, because I have noticed now that what Nigerians desire is a perfect election. And INEC will strive as much as possible to give this country the best election.

“However, we may not be able to achieve a 100 per cent perfect election for now. But as far as electronic transmission of results is concerned, I said it before the FCT Area Council that we have the capacity to transmit the results, and that we’re going to transmit the results. The only concern was real-time,” he said.

Describing elections as the bedrock of democratic governance, Amupitan underscored the importance of transparency and voter education.

“Election, for that matter, is the lifeblood of democracy. According to Abraham Lincoln, the ballot is more powerful than the bullets. Also, the ignorance of a voter is very inimical to the security of a nation.

“So, that is why we cannot underscore the role of INEC, as well as the civil society, in guaranteeing a transparent and credible election,” he stated.

Amupitan disclosed that INEC played an active role in shaping the Electoral Act 2026, noting that the review process began about three years ago through a joint committee comprising the National Assembly, civil society organisations and the commission.

“As of the time I was taking over, the work was almost concluded. But nonetheless, we still made some important provisions and recommendations in the new acts,” he explained.

On the contentious issue of electronic transmission — which dominated discussions after the 2023 general elections — the chairman revealed that INEC had pushed for mandatory transmission during legislative deliberations.

“Now, even talking about the transmission of the results, you will notice that the original provision that came out of the retreat from the National Assembly was not exactly what you have today.

“But when INEC came in, we talked of transmission being mandatory. But let us be sincere and honest. The only problem that we had was how to define what we call real time,” he said.

To illustrate practical challenges, Amupitan cited the recent Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections, particularly events in Kabi Ward in Kuje Area Council.

“Let’s look at the FCT area council election that just took place. Now, there are six area councils in the FCT. The results came out on time in five area councils. But in the Kuje area council, we have 10 wards. And the results in one ward, Kabi, did not come until the following day, Sunday,” he recounted.

He attributed the delay to terrain and communication challenges.

“Kabi ward is about three-and-a-half hours’ drive. And the terrain is very bad. So I was worried.

“When we sent our polling officials and security agencies to that ward, the moment they entered that place, we could not reach them. They were not accessible by phone. And nobody could speak to them until we had to send somebody on Saturday morning, just to be sure that they were safe, before we now got the results,” he said.

The results were eventually physically brought to Kuje town for collation before declaration.

Despite the delay, Amupitan maintained that transmission itself was not the core issue, but rather network adequacy and logistics.

“I don’t see the issue of transmission as really a problem. I don’t see it as an issue because, from my little experience, over four months now in INEC, the problem is not even the network.

“The problem I have seen is the adequacy of the network we have. For instance, you expect that in a place like FCT, you should be able to transmit your results without any encumbrance. But we had a situation where it was impossible for us to have a real-time transmission of results, especially from the Kabi ward, until the following day,” he said.

He warned that operational lapses could erode public trust.

“So, talking about logistics, I’ve said it often that your election can be as good as your logistics. So, where there is logistics failure, you know that you are beginning to fail.”

While admitting that the FCT poll encountered “some logistic issues,” including human errors, he said corrective steps were already underway.

“As a regulatory body, we’re determined to achieve all this. But nonetheless, we have to admit that there were some logistical issues. Some were purely human, which we are trying to address,” he added.

Looking ahead, Amupitan expressed optimism that the 2027 general elections would mark significant progress.

“But I want to assure you that the election of 2027 will be the best election that Nigerians will have because Nigerians of 2023 are different from what you have in 2027. People are much more aware. And you know the correlation between elections and development.

“Nobody is happy about the classification of Nigeria as an underdeveloped country. So we want a situation where our process will be able to guarantee the confidence and the transparency that people want to see in their system.

“So, by the time you have a transparent election, and people begin to trust INEC and trust their leaders, then the country will move forward,” he stated.

As preparations gradually begin for the next general elections, the INEC chairman’s remarks are likely to reignite debates around technology, logistics and public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.