The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has stepped up engagements with security agencies nationwide to ensure that elections leading up to and including the 2027 general elections are conducted in a secure environment.
At the first regular meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) for 2026 held in Abuja, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan underscored that elections cannot be deemed credible if voters do not feel safe to participate.
With a calendar filled with Area Council elections, by-elections and off-cycle governorship polls this year, the commission is pushing for early and sustained security planning.
Amupitan described 2026 as a very busy electoral year and highlighted that the volume and complexity of upcoming polls, including the 2027 general election, demand robust security coordination.
He commended security agencies for their role in the peaceful conduct of the November 8, 2025 Anambra governorship election.
According to him, the professionalism and dedication of security personnel helped create a calm atmosphere that allowed INEC to declare a winner on the first ballot, despite the state’s history of election-related insecurity.
During the meeting, security chiefs also issued stern warnings to political actors against violence and practices such as vote-buying that could threaten peaceful elections.
Officials emphasised the need to enforce electoral laws, prevent the deployment of political thugs, and ensure the safety of voters and election personnel on polling days.
INEC’s push for early engagement comes as the commission prepares for a packed election schedule that includes the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections in February, the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections later this year, and a nationwide voter revalidation exercise ahead of the 2027 polls.
The chairman reiterated that credible elections depend not only on administrative readiness but also on the ability of security agencies to provide a safe environment for citizens to exercise their franchise without fear.
This engagement with security agencies forms part of INEC's preparations for election security as the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections.
