SAT JULY 25 2026-theGBJournal| Former Nigerian Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar has urged Nigerians to support the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general election, as the electoral body pledged to ensure every valid vote counts and announced the dates for the presidential and legislative polls.
Former military ruler and Chairman of the National Peace Committee, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, made the appeal on Friday during a visit by INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, and senior officials of the commission to his residence in Minna, Niger State.
The visit came as INEC sought to reinforce public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections, amid persistent concerns over the credibility of past polls.
Amupitan said the commission remained committed to protecting the integrity of the electoral process despite mounting pressures, stressing that Nigerians should be able to cast their ballots with confidence that their votes would determine election outcomes.
“Our commitment is to ensure that the will of the Nigerian people, as expressed through the ballot, prevails,” he said, adding that guaranteeing that every valid vote counts remained INEC’s foremost responsibility.
The INEC chairman also praised Abdulsalami for his role in Nigeria’s democratic transition and his leadership of the National Peace Committee, whose peace accords have encouraged political parties and candidates to commit to peaceful campaigns and non-violence.
During the visit, Amupitan announced that Nigeria’s presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on 16 January 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections are scheduled for 6 February 2027.
The announcement marks the formal commencement of preparations for what will be Nigeria’s next nationwide electoral cycle, with INEC seeking to reassure voters that the credibility of the process remains a priority.
Responding, General Abubakar commended the Commission’s leadership and described the INEC chairmanship as one of the most demanding positions in the country, given the divergent expectations of political actors regardless of whatever direction the Commission takes.
He called on Nigerians to support the Commission and its leadership, stressing that the success of the nation’s democracy depended on the cooperation and confidence extended to INEC by the citizenry and political stakeholders alike.
General Abubakar expressed confidence in Prof. Amupitan’s leadership, urging him to remain firm and impartial in the discharge of his duties, and assured the Commission of his continued support and prayers ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The INEC Chairman thanked General Abubakar for his continued goodwill towards the Commission and reiterated that INEC would spare no effort in delivering free, fair and credible elections in 2027.
Earlier in the day, the INEC Chairman had held an interactive session with staff of the Commission’s Niger State office, where he echoed the same message of commitment to Nigerians, telling personnel that their diligence and integrity in the field were central to ensuring that every vote cast would count.
He described the staff as the grassroots foot soldiers of the Commission and charged Electoral Officers and other field officials to see themselves as ambassadors of INEC, noting that public confidence in the electoral process depended significantly on their conduct at the point of service.
Prof. Amupitan also used the visit to the Niger State office to restate the Commission’s commitment to improving staff welfare, disclosing that a review of welfare packages was underway following his observation that conditions met on assumption of office were among the poorest compared to other public institutions.
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