The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, used four legislative bye-elections held on Saturday to test its election systems ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the polls in Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta states would give the commission practical lessons on logistics, technology and field operations.
Amupitan spoke while supervising election operations from INEC’s National Situation Room at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The Situation Room is where the commission monitors election activities and responds to problems reported from the field.
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The chairman said administrative and field problems identified before the by-elections had been dealt with before voting took place.
“Our primary mandate in the Situation Room is monitoring and proactive crisis resolution.
“Whatever administrative or field challenges arose in before the day of the elections, the Commission was able to nip them in the bud effectively.”
Four polls as preparation for 2027
The four elections covered the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe State, Dawakin Kudu State Constituency in Kano State, Sakwa and Disina State Constituencies in Bauchi State and Udu State Constituency in Delta State.
Amupitan said the exercises should not be treated as ordinary or minor elections because each one gives INEC an opportunity to examine its preparations for the 2027 general elections.
He said the results from the four polls would provide lessons for the commission as it prepares its roadmap for the next general election.
“These four bye-elections provide indispensable operational lessons for the Commission as we systematically chart our roadmap toward the 2027 general election.
“We must resist the temptation to view any exercise as merely an ordinary bye-election.”
The chairman said each election would allow INEC to examine how its logistics system performs, test its technology and assess the readiness of its field administration.
The four-state exercise therefore gave the commission an opportunity to receive reports from different locations while voting was taking place.
Amupitan monitored the elections with National Commissioners and senior management officials from the Situation Room in Abuja.
Operational reports from the states were received as the elections progressed, allowing the commission to assess field performance during the exercise.
Amupitan also said the commission had dealt with operational bottlenecks identified before the bye-elections.
He said this was done as part of the work carried out through the Situation Room, where INEC monitors activities and works to resolve problems during election operations.
The chairman also thanked personnel working in the Situation Room, with particular mention of the technical team.
He credited the team with helping the commission monitor the multi-state elections and assess activities in the field.
The bye-elections now provide INEC with operational lessons as it continues preparations for the 2027 general elections.
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