The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned its staff against partisan conduct, negligence, and ethical breaches ahead of the 2027 general election, as it announced that collection of newly printed Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will begin on October 9.
INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan gave the warning on Monday in Kaduna while opening the North-West Zonal Interactive Meeting with Staff and Readiness Assessment for the 2027 General Election.
Amupitan told electoral officers, heads of departments, and senior administrative staff from the zone that the Commission would strictly enforce its code of conduct.
“Partisan leaning, administrative negligence, or compromised ethics will not be tolerated,” he said.
“Every officer must understand that protecting INEC’s institutional integrity is non-negotiable.”
The INEC chairman said the conduct of field officers was central to the credibility of elections, warning that administrative lapses could fuel voter apathy and disinformation.
“When a polling unit opens late, when an officer displays nonchalance or perceived bias, or when technical glitches are met with silence, we inadvertently validate the cynics, deepen voter apathy, and fuel disinformation,” he said.
Amupitan reminded staff of the oath of loyalty and neutrality required under Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2026, stressing that electoral officials must administer elections without favoring any candidate or political party.
“The question must never be ‘Who will benefit from this decision?’ but always ‘What does the law require me to do?’” he said.
He also directed officials to follow established procedures rather than resort to informal shortcuts, saying operational challenges should be escalated through formal institutional channels.
“The credibility of an election depends on how faithfully the law is implemented by the officials entrusted with its administration,” Amupitan said.
He described INEC field officers as the face of the Commission in their communities.
“To the voter in a local ward, INEC is not the chairman in Abuja; INEC is you,” he said.
The chairman urged staff to know the law, understand their responsibilities, remain neutral, and document their actions, stressing that every administrative decision must be capable of withstanding public scrutiny and judicial review.
Meanwhile, the Supervising National Commissioner for Kaduna, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, disclosed that collection of newly printed PVCs would commence on October 9.
Haruna said the date had been communicated by the INEC chairman during his courtesy visit to the Emir of Zazzau and appealed to traditional rulers to encourage eligible citizens to collect their cards and participate in the electoral process.
INEC has continued preparations for the 2027 elections through zonal readiness assessments, voter registration, and other electoral activities. The Commission’s current official election calendar lists the Presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections for February 6, 2027.
Amupitan said the Kaduna meeting was part of a six-zone readiness assessment tour and marked a departure from previous practice in which such engagements were largely coordinated through delegated structures or headquarters directorates.
“I am here with you in person, accompanied by National Commissioners and Directors, because I firmly believe that the true success of any election is not decided solely in the meeting rooms of our headquarters in Abuja. It is decided in the field,” he said.
The INEC chairman also assured staff of improved welfare and security, saying the Commission was at an advanced stage of implementing a new salary and welfare package.
He said the Commission had also increased overhead allocations to its state offices and commenced procurement and distribution of new operational pickup vehicles to state offices and local government areas nationwide.
Director of Planning and Monitoring, Helen Ajayi, said the zonal exercise was designed to assess the preparedness of states and identify operational challenges ahead of the elections.
Representatives of the Voter Education and Publicity, Voter Registry, ICT, Human Resources, and Election and Operations departments also briefed staff on their respective responsibilities ahead of the 2027 polls.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
