INEC chairman warns staff against partisan politics
“The commission wants you to be neutral and professional, both in your words and actions. The commission will not tolerate unprofessional or unethical electoral conduct from any staff,” he said. The post INEC chairman…
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the body constitutionally charged with organising and supervising elections in Nigeria, and its credibility hinges heavily on the neutrality of its staff, who are often accused by losing parties of bias, manipulation or succumbing to inducements from politicians. Concerns about internal compromise have trailed previous elections, with allegations ranging from result alteration to collusion with security agents and party agents, fuelling repeated calls for stricter internal discipline within the commission.
With the 2027 general elections on the horizon, the warning from INEC's chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, signals an early push to insulate the commission's workforce from political pressure, financial inducements and intimidation. Both reports agree on the substance of the warning to staff, though neither provides details on what disciplinary measures, if any, will back up the directive, or how the commission plans to monitor compliance across its vast network of field officers nationwide.