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 the Commission’s preparations for the 2027 General Election.
The commissioning, which took place on Thursday, November 5, 2026, formed part of the Chairman’s North-Central Zonal Readiness Assessment and nationwide interactive engagements with staff and stakeholders ahead of the January 16 and February 6, 2027 elections.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Professor Amupitan explained that the facility was designed to address operational challenges associated with the storage and maintenance of BVAS devices, particularly those arising from improper storage conditions and inadequate cooling systems.
He noted that the Commission had identified the need for dedicated storage facilities across states to ensure that the devices are kept under appropriate conditions, maintain optimal performance, preserve battery life and extend their operational lifespan.
According to him, the initiative is part of the Commission’s broader efforts to strengthen technological reliability and ensure effective deployment of election technology for the forthcoming elections.
The Chairman expressed satisfaction with the facility and formally commissioned it for use during the 2027 General Election, charging the relevant officials to ensure that it serves its intended purpose.
He also acknowledged the attention given to the quality of construction, particularly the foundation, structural protection, electrical connections and equipment installations. He disclosed that the Commission would continue working with its ICT Department to address additional requirements, including the relocation and installation of equipment racks.
Professor Amupitan congratulated the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner and the management of the state office on the initiative, describing the facility as an important addition to the state’s electoral preparedness.
Earlier, the INEC Chairman paid a courtesy visit to the Kogi State Council of Traditional Rulers, where he solicited the support and royal blessings of traditional institutions for the successful conduct of peaceful, credible and inclusive elections in 2027.
Describing the visit as a homecoming, the Chairman said it was important to pay homage to traditional rulers before undertaking a major national assignment in his home state.
The delegation was received by the President and Chairman of the Kogi State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Dr. Matthew Alaji Opaluwa Oguche Akpa, the Attah Igala, alongside the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, His Royal Majesty Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Muhammad; the Obaro of Kabba and Chairman of the Okun Area Traditional Council, His Royal Majesty Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyi, and other traditional rulers across the state.
Professor Amupitan explained that the engagement was part of the Commission’s nationwide consultations and readiness assessments, with the North-Central zone representing the final phase of its zonal assessment tours.
He emphasised that traditional rulers remained critical partners in the electoral process because of their influence and authority within their respective communities, noting that the Commission could not independently guarantee peaceful elections without the cooperation of community leaders and other stakeholders.
He therefore appealed to the royal fathers to support the Commission in three critical areas: mobilisation for Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collection and civic participation, discouragement of electoral violence and political thuggery, and combating misinformation and disinformation.
On PVC collection, the Chairman disclosed that the Commission was implementing a decentralised collection exercise across the 774 Local Government Areas, including all 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi State, with collection points moved closer to citizens at ward level.
He urged traditional rulers to encourage eligible voters to collect their PVCs, stressing that voter registration must translate into actual participation on election day.
On electoral security, he appealed to the royal fathers to use their positions to discourage political violence and caution young people against allowing themselves to be used as instruments of political disruption.
He further drew attention to emerging threats associated with technology, including artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes, fabricated media content and deliberately circulated false information capable of misleading voters and undermining public confidence in elections.
He called on traditional institutions to work with INEC’s state and local government offices to verify information before disseminating it within their communities.
The Chairman reassured the people of Kogi State and the North-Central zone that INEC remained politically neutral, declaring that the Commission had no candidate and was committed to ensuring that all lawful votes cast by Nigerians were accurately counted and declared.
He also disclosed that the Commission had taken steps to audit, upgrade and secure its technological infrastructure, including BVAS devices, while strengthening collaboration with security agencies to ensure adequate security arrangements for the 2027 elections.
Responding on behalf of the traditional rulers, the Vice President of the Kogi State Council of Chiefs, Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, His Royal Majesty Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Muhammad representing the Attah Igala, expressed the traditional institution’s support for the INEC Chairman and the Commission.
He described Professor Amupitan’s appointment as a source of pride to the people of Kogi State and pledged the Council’s willingness to collaborate with INEC in promoting peaceful coexistence, responsible political participation and credible elections.
The traditional ruler also urged the Chairman to remain committed to fairness, transparency, accountability and strict adherence to the rule of law.
In another major engagement, Professor Amupitan met with staff of the INEC Kogi State office at the Professor Mahmood Yakubu State Collation Centre, Lokoja, where he interacted with personnel and assessed their level of preparedness for the forthcoming elections.
The meeting brought together National Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioner (RCE) Kogi State, Admin Sec, Heads of Departments, Electoral Officers and other staff from the state.
The engagement provided an opportunity for the Commission’s leadership to assess operational concerns, review preparations and reinforce the responsibilities of personnel in delivering the 2027 General Election.
The Chairman underscored the importance of staff commitment to the electoral process, particularly in the areas of logistics, technology and effective coordination of election activities.
He emphasised that the successful conduct of the elections depended significantly on the dedication and professionalism of personnel at the state and local government levels.
The discussions also touched on the importance of timely distribution of election materials, effective use of technology and the need to address operational and infrastructural requirements ahead of the polls.
In his welcome address, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Kogi State, Dr. Alh. Shehu L. Wahab, said the Chairman’s visit was a morale booster and a demonstration of the Commission’s commitment to assessing operational preparedness at the grassroots.
He stated that since his deployment to the state in April 2026, he had engaged staff on several occasions and secured their commitment to diligence, professionalism and alignment with the Commission’s strategic direction.
The REC reaffirmed that the state office maintained zero tolerance for partisanship and operational complacency, adding that personnel across the 21 Local Government Areas were expected to uphold the highest standards of professional conduct.
Staff representatives, in their remarks, appreciated the Chairman’s visit, describing the engagement as an opportunity to receive direct guidance from the Commission’s leadership. They also highlighted the importance of staff welfare in sustaining motivation, professionalism and resistance to undue external influence.
The Chairman’s engagements in Kogi State form part of the Commission’s wider efforts to assess personnel, infrastructure, logistics and technological preparedness ahead of the 2027 General Election.
In his address to the traditional rulers, Professor Amupitan disclosed that the Commission had completed nine of the 14 major operational milestones outlined in its timetable and schedule of activities, with preparations progressing from strategic planning to field-level implementation.
He also noted that Nigeria’s voter register had risen to over 103 million registered citizens, underscoring the scale of the administrative and technological responsibilities confronting the Commission.
The Chairman reiterated his commitment to delivering elections that are peaceful, transparent, credible and inclusive, assuring Nigerians that the Commission would continue to strengthen its operational capacity and work with relevant stakeholders to achieve this objective.
The Kogi visit therefore combined infrastructure commissioning, stakeholder consultation and staff engagement, reinforcing the Commission’s emphasis on technological preparedness, institutional coordination and community partnership as it advances preparations for the 2027 General Election.
