EDITOR: EZINWANNE OKWUOLISA
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will tomorrow begin the 100-day countdown to the 2027 general elections with a world press conference and national stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, as political activity intensifies amid party disputes, defections and consultations ahead of the polls.
The event will provide an opportunity for the commission to give updates on its preparations for the polls, including the voters’ register, candidate nominations, logistics and measures being put in place to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
In a statement yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, the commission said the event would also provide a platform for engagement with major stakeholders in the electoral process.
The event will be addressed by INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, SAN, alongside other key stakeholders involved in the electoral process.
The national stakeholders’ meeting underlines the Commission’s commitment to absolute transparency, proactive public communication, and collaborative engagement with key actors in the electoral ecosystem.
According to the Commission, political party leaders, security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, members of the diplomatic corps, development partners, civil society organisations, observer groups, disability rights advocates, religious and traditional leaders, youth organisations and media executives are expected at the meeting.
The meeting comes as preparations for the 2027 elections enter a critical phase.
INEC’s timetable fixes February 20, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for March 6, 2027.
The commission had earlier outlined a series of activities leading to the polls, including party primaries, candidate nominations and other pre-election processes. The electoral calendar is being implemented under the legal framework governing the 2027 elections.
Prof. Amupitan, who assumed office as INEC chairman in October 2025, has said the commission’s mandate is to deliver free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive elections.
Tomorrow’s engagement will therefore bring the commission together with political parties, security agencies and other stakeholders as the election calendar moves towards the February and March 2027 polls.
The event will be held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja from 10:00 a.m.
The commission added that attendance would be strictly by invitation, while accredited media representatives and guests would be required to present their invitation cards or accreditation badges at security checkpoints.
The event will be broadcast live on major national television networks and streamed on INEC’s official social media platforms.
