The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a stern directive to its administrative secretaries across Nigeria's 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to eliminate operational gaps and political interference ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Monday, September 7, 2026, at the opening of a two-day Strategic Operational Workshop in Lagos, INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan cautioned officials against administrative shortcuts and fragmented processes. He noted that the commission has formally entered a crucial six-month preparation window to align regional management with central standards.
"We can no longer afford fragmented interpretations of administrative duties or disjointed operational practices from state to state," Amupitan stated. "If you tolerate shortcuts, shortcuts will multiply. If you tolerate political interference, neutrality will deteriorate."
The commission stressed that administrative secretaries serve as chief operational anchors in state secretariats, bearing direct responsibility for procedural execution, resource deployment, and election technology management. To enforce nationwide operational alignment, INEC announced the deployment of an Administrative Secretary Master Operational Tracker Template. Linked directly to the central Election Monitoring and Support Centre, the new data-driven tool enables real-time monitoring of material distribution, personnel training, and facility readiness across all states.
Echoing the chairman's charge, INEC Secretary Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony urged state officials to strengthen working relationships with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to safeguard non-partisanship and organisational continuity.
