By David Lawani, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed October 9, 2026, for the commencement of collection of newly printed Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Commission also warned its personnel against partisan conduct, administrative negligence and ethical compromises, saying any action capable of undermining public confidence in the electoral process would not be tolerated.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, gave the warning on Monday in Kaduna while declaring open the North-West Zonal Interactive Meeting with Staff and Readiness Assessment for the 2027 elections.
Amupitan, who addressed Electoral Officers, Heads of Departments and senior administrative staff from the North-West zone, said the Commission would strictly enforce its code of conduct.
“Partisan leaning, administrative negligence, or compromised ethics will not be tolerated. Every officer must understand that protecting INEC’s institutional integrity is non-negotiable,” he said.
He warned that administrative lapses at polling units could undermine election credibility, deepen voter apathy and create opportunities for disinformation and public distrust.
“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,” Amupitan said.
He said the conduct and competence of field officials could either strengthen INEC’s defence against misinformation or contribute to its spread.
The chairman reminded electoral officials of their statutory obligation to remain neutral, citing Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2026, which he said requires electoral officials and participating security personnel to take an oath of loyalty and neutrality.
He said the oath required officials to administer elections without favouring 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 declared.
Amupitan directed officials to follow established laws, regulations and procedures in resolving operational challenges rather than resorting to informal arrangements or administrative shortcuts.
He maintained that neither a sound legal framework nor modern technology could guarantee credible elections without faithful implementation by electoral officials.
“The credibility of an election depends on how faithfully the law is implemented by the officials entrusted with its administration,” he said.
Describing field officials as the face of INEC at the grassroots, he added: “To the voter in a local ward, INEC is not the Chairman in Abuja; INEC is you.”
Supervising National Commissioner for Kaduna, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, announced the October 9 date for collection of newly printed PVCs during the meeting.
Haruna said the INEC chairman had conveyed the planned commencement of collection to the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, during a courtesy visit.
He appealed to traditional rulers to mobilise eligible citizens in their communities to collect their PVCs and participate in the electoral process.
The announcement comes as INEC intensifies preparations for the 2027 elections and seeks to ensure that eligible voters have the necessary documents to participate.
Haruna described the Kaduna meeting as the second of the Commission’s six-zone engagements, following the meeting held in Lagos.
Amupitan said the zonal exercise was part of efforts to identify operational gaps, strengthen coordination and improve election administration ahead of the nationwide polls.
He said the Commission’s performance during recent off-cycle elections had raised public expectations for the 2027 general elections.
“The praise of yesterday raises the expectations of tomorrow,” he said.
The chairman said the 2027 elections would present a more demanding responsibility, with nationwide presidential, National Assembly, governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections scheduled across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.
*INEC strengthens staff welfare, logistics
Amupitan said INEC was also improving staff welfare, working conditions and security ahead of the elections.
He disclosed that the Commission had established the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure, effective January 1, 2026, moving its workforce out of the regular Civil Service salary structure.
He also said overhead allocations to state offices had increased by 150 per cent from July 1, 2026.
The chairman further disclosed that INEC had commenced procurement and distribution of new operational pickup vehicles to state offices and local government areas.
According to him, the measures were aimed at improving mobility, security and operational efficiency during elections.
Earlier, Director of Planning and Monitoring, Helen Ajayi, said the readiness assessment was designed to evaluate state preparedness and identify operational challenges requiring attention before the elections.
She said the meetings would also ensure that INEC personnel remained familiar with and committed to the Commission’s code of conduct.
Directors and representatives from various departments also made presentations on voter education, voter registration, information technology, human resources and election operations.
The Kaduna engagement is expected to support INEC’s efforts to harmonise operational procedures and address administrative weaknesses ahead of the 2027 general elections.
