- Amupitan Demands Release Of Outstanding Election Funds, Says INEC’s Staff Are Nigeria’s Least Paid
- Electoral Umpire To Deploys AI For Result Verification, Cyber Defence
With just 100 days to the first ballot, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stepped up preparations for the 2027 general elections, demanding the immediate release of outstanding funds while unveiling a major artificial intelligence-driven overhaul of its electoral technology.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, raised the alarm on Tuesday in Abuja at a World Press Conference and National Stakeholders’ Meeting marking 100 days to the first ballot, saying adequate funding remained critical to the successful execution of the remaining electoral activities.
“Executing a national election of this magnitude requires robust financial backing and fiscal discipline,” Amupitan said, adding that the commission was expecting the prompt release of the remaining budget to ensure a seamless implementation of its plans.
Although he acknowledged that statutory allocations had so far been released on schedule, enabling INEC to meet international vendor obligations, acquire critical election technology, upgrade infrastructure and maintain nationwide operations, the chairman said the outstanding balance was urgently required as the election countdown gathers momentum.
The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, also called on stakeholders to support INEC, including through adequate funding, while stressing that the EU had no preferred candidate or political party in the 2027 election.
“We don’t support specific candidates or parties,” Mignot said, pledging that the EU would deploy election experts to monitor the pre-election, voting and post-election phases before making recommendations.
AI Takes Centre Stage
In what could mark a major technological shift in Nigeria’s electoral system, Amupitan disclosed that INEC had established a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Division within its ICT Department.
The commission has also begun integrating automated AI auditing tools into its result-verification process under a five-pillar AI governance framework, with mandatory human oversight.
Amupitan said INEC was working with international technology partners to deploy AI-powered anomaly detection systems capable of monitoring database traffic and helping protect public portals from cyber intrusions and unauthorised alterations.
The commission is also upgrading its election technology, including its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), while preparing for nationwide mock accreditation and further workforce training.
The aggressive technology push comes against the backdrop of growing concerns over deepfakes, voice cloning, fabricated election materials and AI-generated misinformation capable of spreading rapidly across social media.
Amupitan therefore urged media organisations to intensify fact-checking and verify sensitive election claims with INEC before publication.
1.4m Ad Hoc Workers For Two Elections
The scale of the electoral operation was also laid bare as INEC disclosed that it would require 1,414,768 ad hoc personnel for the 2027 polls.
According to the commission, 707,384 ad hoc workers will be required for the presidential and National Assembly elections, with another 707,384 needed for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
The workforce will be deployed across 176,846 polling units, with members of the National Youth Service Corps expected to provide a substantial part of the temporary manpower.
103m Voters, PVC Distribution Begins Friday
Amupitan also disclosed that Nigeria’s National Register of Voters had climbed beyond 103 million, following the registration of 10,772,421 new voters during the three phases of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
The register is scheduled for public display from October 9 to 15, while the first phase of Permanent Voter Card distribution at local government centres is also scheduled to commence on October 9.
With 18 of the country’s 22 registered political parties having submitted presidential candidates, the electoral machinery is rapidly moving from preparation into full-scale deployment.
‘INEC Staff Are Least Paid’
Amid the massive preparations, Amupitan disclosed another challenge confronting the commission — the welfare of its own workforce.
The INEC chairman said the commission’s staff were the “least paid in Nigeria”, arguing that better remuneration was necessary if the electoral body expected its personnel to take full responsibility for their duties.
“INEC staff are the least paid in Nigeria. So we felt that if we want to demand and hold our staff responsible, we should give them a living wage,” Amupitan said.
He said INEC had consequently taken what he described as “very radical steps” to prioritise staff welfare, including removing the commission from the civil service payment structure and establishing a separate electoral and salary structure.
According to him, the reforms followed the identification of several institutional gaps that needed to be addressed to improve the quality and effectiveness of the electoral process.
INEC Under Pressure To Deliver
As the countdown to 2027 intensifies, lawmakers, political parties and other stakeholders have urged the commission to maintain neutrality, enforce relevant court judgments and engage political parties more closely.
Inter-Party Advisory Council Chairman Yusuf Mamman Dantalle cautioned INEC officials against favouring any political party or candidate, while security authorities said preparations were ongoing in Kogi, Niger, Benue and Taraba states.
Amupitan, meanwhile, reassured Nigerians and the international community of INEC’s commitment to neutrality, operational excellence and the integrity of the ballot.
“We reassure the nation and the international community of our total commitment to neutrality, operational excellence, and the sacred integrity of the ballot box,” he said.
With funding, technology, manpower, staff welfare and voter readiness now dominating the commission’s 100-day countdown, INEC faces a formidable test: delivering an election that is not only technologically fortified and adequately staffed, but also trusted by the millions of Nigerians heading to the ballot box.
