Gombe, Kano, Bauchi, Delta polls lessons for 2027 — INEC

L-R: National Commissioners, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu and Prof. Rhoda Gumus; Honourable Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN; and National Commissioner, Malam Mohammed Haruna, during the monitoring of multi-state bye-elections in the Situation Room in Abuja on Saturday Photo Credit: INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission has described the bye-elections held in Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta states as crucial operational tests that would provide lessons for the 2027 General Election.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, (SAN), stated this on Saturday while personally presiding over operations at the Commission’s National Situation Room at its headquarters in Abuja.

According to a statement issued and signed by the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, the Commission conducted four legislative bye-elections in the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe State, Dawakin Kudu State Constituency in Kano State, Sakwa and Disina State Constituencies in Bauchi State, and Udu State Constituency in Delta State.

Amupitan said every off-cycle election was an important dress rehearsal for the general election, stressing that no electoral contest should be regarded as trivial or routine.

He said, “These four bye-elections provide indispensable operational lessons for the Commission as we systematically chart our roadmap toward the 2027 General Election.

“We must resist the temptation to view any exercise as merely an ordinary bye-election. Every election is a critical component of our broader preparations for the 2027 General Election, allowing us to continuously audit our logistics framework, stress-test our technological deployment, and evaluate administrative field readiness.”

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The INEC chairman, accompanied by National Commissioners and senior management officials, monitored the elections as operational reports were received from the various states.

Amupitan also reassured Nigerians of the Commission’s commitment to electoral integrity, saying operational bottlenecks identified before the polls were swiftly addressed.

“Our primary mandate in the Situation Room is monitoring and proactive crisis resolution,” he said.

“Whatever administrative or field challenges arose before the day of the elections, the Commission was able to nip them in the bud effectively. We remain committed to refining our processes so that every subsequent exercise reflects higher standards of efficiency and public confidence.”

The INEC chairman thanked officials in the Situation Room, particularly the technical team, for enabling the Commission to monitor the multi-state exercise seamlessly and assess field performance without any hitch.