… Solicits Monarchs’ Support for Peaceful Polls
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), has commissioned a newly constructed Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) storage facility in Lokoja, Kogi State, as part of administrative preparations for the 2027 General Elections.
The commissioning, which took place on Thursday, November 5, 2026, formed part of the Chairman’s North-Central Zonal Readiness Assessment tour ahead of the national polls scheduled for January 16 and February 6, 2027.
Speaking at the event, Professor Amupitan explained that the climate-controlled facility was established to eliminate technical glitches associated with device degradation, improper storage, and inadequate cooling systems, thereby extending the operational lifespan and battery reliability of BVAS units.
Following the commissioning, Amupitan paid a courtesy visit to the Kogi State Council of Traditional Rulers at the council chambers in Lokoja to seek their partnership in promoting voter registration, combating election violence, and countering digital misinformation.
The INEC delegation was received by the Vice President of the Kogi State Council of Chiefs and Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, His Royal Majesty Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Muhammad—representing the Council President and Attah Igala, His Royal Majesty Dr. Matthew Alaji Opaluwa Oguche Akpa—alongside the Obaro of Kabba, His Royal Majesty Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyi.
Addressing the traditional leaders, Amupitan announced that the commission has commenced a decentralized Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collection drive across all 774 local government areas nationwide, bringing collection points directly to the ward level.
He urged traditional institutions to assist in mobilizing citizens for PVC collection while appealing to them to use their community influence to dissuade youths from political thuggery and check the spread of artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes and false narratives aimed at undermining electoral integrity.
Reaffirming the commission’s institutional neutrality, Amupitan stated that INEC maintains zero candidate preference and has completed nine of the 14 key operational milestones outlined in its 2027 electoral timetable, with the national voter register now exceeding 103 million citizens.
Responding on behalf of the council, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland pledged the support of traditional rulers across Kogi State’s 21 local government areas to ensure peaceful community mobilization, while charging the commission to maintain strict adherence to transparency and the rule of law.
The Chairman subsequently met with management and field personnel at the Professor Mahmood Yakubu State Collation Centre in Lokoja, where the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Alh. Shehu L. Wahab, assured the national leadership of zero tolerance for operational complacency or political partisanship among electoral officers in the state.
