The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has commissioned a newly constructed Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) storage facility in Lokoja, Kogi State, as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan also solicited the support of traditional rulers in promoting peaceful, credible and inclusive elections.
The commissioning, which took place on Thursday, November 5, 2026, formed part of his North-Central zonal readiness assessment and engagements with electoral stakeholders ahead of the January 16 and February 6, 2027 elections.
Speaking at the ceremony, the INEC chairman said the facility was designed to address challenges associated with improper storage, inadequate cooling and maintenance of BVAS devices.
He explained that dedicated storage facilities were necessary to ensure optimal operating conditions, preserve battery life, improve device performance and extend the lifespan of electoral technology.
Amupitan expressed satisfaction with the quality of construction, particularly the foundation, structural protection, electrical connections and equipment installations.
He directed relevant officials to ensure the facility served its intended purpose and disclosed that INEC would continue working with its Information and Communication Technology Department to address additional requirements, including equipment racks.
The chairman congratulated the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner and management of the state office on the initiative, describing the facility as an important contribution to electoral preparedness.
Earlier, Amupitan visited the Kogi State Council of Traditional Rulers, where he sought their royal blessings and support for peaceful elections.
The delegation was received by the President of the Council and Attah Igala, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Matthew Alaji Opaluwa Oguche Akpa, alongside the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, His Royal Majesty Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Muhammad; the Obaro of Kabba and Chairman of the Okun Area Traditional Council, His Royal Majesty Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyi, and other traditional rulers.
Describing the visit as a homecoming, Amupitan said it was important to pay homage to traditional rulers before embarking on a major national assignment in his home state.
He noted that traditional institutions remained critical partners in the electoral process because of their influence and authority within communities.
According to him, INEC could not independently guarantee peaceful elections without the cooperation of community leaders and other stakeholders.
The chairman urged traditional rulers to support the Commission in mobilising eligible voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), discouraging electoral violence and political thuggery, and combating misinformation and disinformation.
He disclosed that INEC had decentralised PVC collection across the 774 local government areas, including Kogi’s 21 LGAs, with collection points moved closer to citizens at ward level.
Amupitan urged traditional rulers to encourage eligible voters to collect their PVCs, stressing that registration must translate into participation on election day.
He also appealed to the royal fathers to caution youths against being recruited for political violence and electoral disruption.
On emerging technological threats, he warned against the use of artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes, fabricated media and false information to mislead voters and undermine public confidence in elections.
He urged traditional institutions to collaborate with INEC’s state and local government offices in verifying information before disseminating it within their communities.
The INEC chairman reaffirmed the Commission’s political neutrality, declaring that it had no candidate and was committed to ensuring that every lawful vote cast was accurately counted and declared.
He added that INEC had undertaken measures to audit, upgrade and secure its technological infrastructure, including BVAS devices, while strengthening collaboration with security agencies ahead of the elections.
Responding on behalf of the traditional rulers, the Vice President of the Kogi State Council of Chiefs and Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Muhammad, expressed support for the Commission.
He described Amupitan’s appointment as a source of pride to Kogi State and pledged the traditional institution’s cooperation in promoting peaceful coexistence, responsible political participation and credible elections.
The traditional ruler urged the INEC chairman to uphold fairness, transparency, accountability and strict adherence to the rule of law.
In another engagement, Amupitan met with INEC staff in Kogi State at the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu State Collation Centre in Lokoja to assess their preparedness for the forthcoming elections.
The meeting was attended by National Commissioners, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, administrative officials, heads of departments, electoral officers and other personnel.
Amupitan emphasised the importance of professionalism, commitment and effective coordination in election logistics, technology deployment and the distribution of electoral materials.
He said the successful conduct of the elections would depend largely on the dedication of personnel at the state and local government levels.
In his welcome address, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Shehu L. Wahab, described the chairman’s visit as a morale booster and a demonstration of INEC’s commitment to assessing operational readiness at the grassroots.
Wahab, who said he was deployed to the state in April 2026, reaffirmed the commitment of staff to diligence, professionalism and the Commission’s strategic objectives.
He maintained that the state office had zero tolerance for partisanship and operational complacency, adding that personnel across the 21 LGAs were expected to uphold the highest professional standards.
Staff representatives welcomed the chairman’s visit, describing it as an opportunity to receive direct guidance from the Commission’s leadership. They also stressed the importance of staff welfare in sustaining motivation and resisting undue external influence.
Amupitan disclosed that INEC had completed nine of the 14 major operational milestones outlined in its election timetable, with preparations progressing from strategic planning to field-level implementation.
He further revealed that Nigeria’s voter register had exceeded 103 million registered citizens, highlighting the scale of the administrative and technological demands facing the Commission.
The chairman reiterated INEC’s commitment to delivering peaceful, transparent, credible and inclusive elections, assuring Nigerians that the Commission would continue strengthening its operational capacity and stakeholder partnerships.
The Kogi visit combined infrastructure commissioning, stakeholder consultations and staff assessment as INEC intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections.
