The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has intensified preparations with security agencies on preparations for the 2027 General Elections.

The Commission sustained Day 3 of its first regular stakeholders’ meeting for the year 2026, with a high-level engagement with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES.

The Commission remarked that the year would be one of the busiest in Nigeria’s electoral history ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

At the meeting at the Commission’s Conference Room, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, described 2026 as a critical year that demands heightened security coordination, proactive intelligence gathering and seamless inter-agency collaboration to guarantee peaceful, credible and violence-free elections.

The meeting was his second engagement with ICCES since assuming office. The first meeting held on 28 October, 2025, during preparations for the Anambra State off-cycle Governorship Election.

Reiterating that 2026 is a very busy electoral year, Prof. Amupitan pointed out that the rising tempo of electoral activities places increased responsibility on security agencies to ensure that citizens can participate in the democratic process without fear.

He commended security operatives for professionalism during the Anambra State Governorship Election on 8 November 2025, barely 15 days after he assumed office. He described the peaceful conduct of the poll as a major achievement despite the state’s history of election-related security challenges.

The INEC Chairman noted the focus on the Federal Capital Territory Area Council Elections scheduled for Saturday, 21 February 2026. He said 1,680,315 registered voters will be voting across 2,822 polling units in the six Area Councils of the FCT.

Amupitan said the Commission has concluded key preparations, including the delivery of non-sensitive materials, training of Electoral Officers and Election Security Personnel, and the ongoing training of ad-hoc staff, while BVAS devices are being configured ahead of the polls.

The Commission will on the same day conduct bye-elections in Ahoada East II and Khana II State Constituencies in Rivers State, as well as Kano Municipal and Ungogo State Constituencies in Kano State.

INEC Chairman revealed that preparations are underway for the Ekiti State Governorship Election scheduled for 20 June 2026; and the Osun State Governorship Election slated for 8 August 2026; including plans for a nationwide voter revalidation exercise towards the 2027 General Elections.

The National Security Adviser, and ICCES Co-Chair, Nuhu Ribadu, represented by Abdullahi Hassan, Director of Internal Security at the Office of the NSA, praised security and law enforcement agencies for their outstanding performance during the Anambra election.

The NSA assured that the Nigerian Police Force, as the lead agency for election security, in collaboration with other security agencies, is actively mobilising resources to prevent disruptions.

He said that adequate personnel will be deployed to polling units and high-risk areas, while politicians with violent tendencies will be identified and restrained in accordance with the law.

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, represented by CP Abayomi Shogunle, reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to massive deployment for all elections nationwide.
“The Nigerian Police Force will continue to deploy massively to ensure that elections are violence-free, peaceful and credible,” the IG said. He assured that the Force will provide continuous protection for INEC staff, facilities and materials not only during elections but at all times.