Nigeria's electoral chief is sounding the alarm on insecurity. Prof.
Joash Amupitan, who heads the Independent National Electoral Commission, warns the country's worsening security crisis threatens free and fair elections.
Amupitan made his concerns known during a Wednesday meeting with Police Inspector-General Tunji Disu in Abuja. The visit focused on security preparations for the 2027 general elections ahead.
Violence, rigging, and threats have plagued Nigerian elections for years. These problems shake public trust in the entire electoral system, the INEC chairman explained.
"Electoral malpractices and violence undermine the confidence of the electorates," Amupitan said. He added that these challenges "pose significant risks to our national security."
Addressing the threat requires urgent action. Security agencies must map out danger zones and put preventive strategies in place before voters go to the polls, he stressed.
"The scale of insecurity across Nigeria presents a threat to fair elections," Amupitan noted. A full security risk assessment before voting day is now essential, he argued.
Two major electoral contests loom in 2027. Presidential elections are scheduled for January 16, while governorship and state assembly polls come February 6.
These elections demand strong teamwork between INEC and the police. Security operations depend heavily on the Nigeria Police Force taking the lead, Amupitan explained.
Party activities are adding pressure to security planners. Ongoing congresses and primary elections under the new Electoral Act 2026 have raised security needs even further.
Off-cycle gubernatorial races in Ekiti and Osun states are also coming. Multiple by-elections across the nation are scheduled as well, the chairman noted.
One group risks being left out: internally displaced persons. Amupitan stressed that IDPs scattered across camps nationwide have the right to vote.
"They must not be disenfranchised," he said during the meeting. INEC is working to create safe voting spaces for displaced families, he added.
People living with disabilities also need special care. Both groups require conducive environments to exercise their voting rights, Amupitan emphasized.
He called on police leadership to prioritize vulnerable populations in election planning. Security operations must protect these groups specifically, he urged.
Disu responded with reassurance about police readiness. The Inspector-General promised the Force would deploy smart policing tactics to handle emerging security dangers.
Intelligence-led approaches will guide police strategy. Preventive measures will target political violence, illegal weapons, online manipulation, and attacks on election infrastructure, Disu said.
