FRI AUG 21 2026-theGBJournal| The Canadian High Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s democratic institutions and strengthening the country’s electoral processes ahead of the 2027 general election.
The Chargé d’Affaires of Canada to Nigeria, David Sproule, made the commitment when he led a delegation from the Canadian High Commission on a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.
The visit provided an opportunity for both sides to discuss areas of cooperation aimed at strengthening electoral institutions, promoting public confidence in the electoral process and supporting the continued development of Nigeria’s democratic framework.
The engagement also builds on lessons from recent electoral exercises, including the Osun experience, as INEC and its international partners explore ways to further improve election administration and institutional capacity ahead of the 2027 polls.
Canada’s renewed engagement signals continued international interest in supporting Nigeria’s efforts to consolidate democratic governance while respecting the country’s ownership of its electoral process.
Welcoming the delegation, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, described Nigeria-Canada relations as a longstanding partnership anchored on mutual respect, democratic values, the rule of law and good governance.
Prof. Amupitan expressed appreciation for Canada’s sustained support for electoral governance, civic education, institutional strengthening and gender inclusion in Nigeria. He reaffirmed that INEC’s mandate remained to deliver free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive elections that accurately reflect the sovereign will of the Nigerian people.
The Chairman said the Commission had continued to use recent off-cycle elections as proving grounds for electoral reforms and operational improvements, citing the Anambra State Governorship Election, the FCT Area Council elections and the Ekiti State Governorship Election as part of the exercises through which INEC had tested and enhanced its operational frameworks.
He also highlighted the recently concluded Osun State Governorship Election, held on 15 August 2026, as a significant benchmark in electoral administration.
According to him, 3,556 of the 3,763 Polling Units, representing 94.5 per cent, opened for accreditation and voting by 8:30 a.m., alongside optimal BVAS performance, seamless result uploads on the IReV portal and proactive crisis management.
“We view the success in Osun not as a final destination, but as the gold standard that will guide our preparations for 2027,” the Chairman stated.
Prof. Amupitan disclosed that the statutory commencement of public campaigns and rallies for the 2027 General Election began on 19 August 2026. He added that INEC had also participated in the signing of the First National Peace Accord on Issue-Based Campaigns by presidential candidates on 18 August 2026, under the auspices of the National Peace Committee.
He identified five key areas of strategic focus for the Commission ahead of the 2027 elections: consolidating technological gains; deepening electoral inclusivity; strengthening institutional capacity and technical support; countering misinformation and safeguarding electoral integrity; and conducting a nationwide mock accreditation exercise in November 2026.
The Chairman said the mock accreditation would subject the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and other electoral equipment to rigorous field testing to assess the Commission’s readiness and address potential operational challenges ahead of the General Election.
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