The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has introduced a real-time operational readiness tracker as preparations intensify for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, unveiled the initiative on Monday in Lagos while opening a two-day Strategic Operational Workshop for the commission’s Administrative Secretaries from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Amupitan charged the officials to maintain strict operational discipline and eliminate ambiguity in their preparations, describing them as the “engine room” of INEC’s state-level operations.
He said the successes recorded in recent off-cycle elections, particularly in Osun State, must be expanded and made an “unbreakable national standard” ahead of the 2027 polls.
According to Channels Television, the new Administrative Secretary Master Operational Tracker Template is a data-driven system designed to give INEC headquarters real-time information on the preparedness of its state offices.
The tracker will be linked to the Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC), allowing the commission to monitor the distribution of election materials and staff training across the country.
Amupitan said the system would help INEC move from reactive management to proactive planning by identifying and resolving operational challenges before they affect election delivery.
The workshop is also focusing on five key areas, including voter registration and Permanent Voter Card (PVC) distribution, logistics and election materials, electoral technology, human resources and financial compliance.
Officials are expected to strengthen their understanding of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) and the Candidate Registration and Results Management System (CROMS).
On voter registration, INEC is placing particular emphasis on improving PVC collection as the national voter register approaches 100 million voters.
The commission is also reviewing the recruitment, vetting and technology training of ad-hoc election personnel, as well as procurement procedures and financial workflows.
Amupitan urged the Administrative Secretaries to identify state-specific bottlenecks and challenge existing assumptions to ensure that INEC offices are operationally prepared for the 2027 elections.
“If you tolerate shortcuts, shortcuts will multiply. If you tolerate political interference, neutrality will deteriorate,” he told the officials.
INEC’s timetable states that the 2027 general elections will begin with the presidential and National Assembly elections on January 16, 2027. The final register of voters is expected to be published on January 11.
Governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for March 6, 2027, while a possible presidential run-off is slated for February 28.
