The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has hailed the recent Osun State governorship election as a benchmark for future electoral processes in Nigeria. This statement came during a meeting with representatives from the Canadian High Commission and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) in Abuja on August 21, 2026.

Amupitan noted that the election, held on August 15, 2026, showcased significant advancements in electoral administration, particularly through the effective use of technology. He reported that an impressive 94.5 percent of polling units in Osun were operational for accreditation and voting by 8:30 a.m., attributing this success to the efficient performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the seamless transmission of results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.

"We regard the success in Osun not as a final goal, but as the benchmark that will inform our preparations for 2027," Amupitan stated, underscoring the importance of this election in shaping future electoral strategies.

In preparation for the upcoming 2027 General Election, Amupitan announced a nationwide mock accreditation exercise scheduled for November 2026. This exercise aims to rigorously test the BVAS system and ensure the integrity of the electoral process ahead of the elections, which are set for January 16 and February 6, 2027, for the Presidential and National Assembly elections and the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections, respectively.

The INEC Chairman also highlighted the necessity of a voter revalidation exercise, particularly for elderly voters who registered as far back as 2011. Although this exercise cannot be conducted before the 2027 elections due to time constraints, Amupitan emphasized its importance for future electoral processes.

During the meetings with the Canadian officials, Amupitan expressed gratitude for Canada’s ongoing support in enhancing Nigeria’s electoral governance, civic education, and gender inclusion. He identified five key areas for collaboration with Canada, including consolidating technological advancements from the Osun election, improving electoral inclusivity for marginalized groups, strengthening institutional capacity, combating misinformation, and supporting the upcoming mock accreditation.

Mr. David Sproule, Chargé d’Affaires of the Canadian High Commission, commended INEC’s commitment to conducting free and credible elections and reaffirmed Canada’s readiness to assist in various capacities, including election observation. He emphasized the importance of active participation from women and other segments of society in the electoral process.

In a separate meeting, Amupitan welcomed Mr. Moritz Sprenker, the new Country Representative of KAS, and acknowledged the foundation's long-standing partnership with INEC. The discussions included ongoing collaborations on civic education, electoral technology, and institutional capacity building.

As preparations intensify for the 2027 elections, Amupitan reassured the international community of INEC’s independence and commitment to democratic integrity, highlighting the logistical preparations to deploy approximately 1.4 million ad hoc personnel across over 176,000 polling units nationwide.