Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has warned political parties that any primary election that sidelines women will fail the Commission’s regulatory test ahead of the 2027 General Election. This was contained in the INEC Daily Bulletin, Volume 2, Number 441 of March 10, 2026.
Speaking at the Commission’s 2026 International Women’s Day celebration held at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, 10th March 2026, the Chairman declared that symbolic concessions to women are no longer sufficient under the Electoral Act 2026 and the Commission’s new Regulations and Guidelines.
“To the political parties,” he said, “the Commission, which is your regulator and a custodian of our democratic integrity, believes it is no longer enough to offer free nomination forms to women while maintaining glass ceilings in your inner caucuses.”
Prof. Amupitan stated that INEC would be scrutinising the inclusivity of party primaries more rigorously than ever before.
“A primary that systematically excludes women is a primary that fails the test of our new regulatory standards,” he said. “There must be internal democracy that caters to women too.”
The Chairman noted that as preparations gradually intensify for the 2027 General Election, political parties must demonstrate genuine commitment to inclusive leadership, stressing that democratic credibility is strengthened when all segments of society are given fair opportunity to participate.
He also expressed concern over the rising tide of gender-based disinformation and digital harassment targeted at female aspirants, warning that the electoral space must not be weaponised against women.
“As we head toward 2027, female candidates are disproportionately targeted by online harassment and fake news designed to suppress their ambition,” he observed. “The electoral space must be a sanctuary for ideas, not a battlefield of gender-targeted character assassination.”
Prof. Amupitan reaffirmed that gender inclusion at INEC is a deliberate institutional commitment rather than rhetoric. He highlighted the growing presence of women in leadership positions within the Commission.
At the national level, he disclosed that the Commission currently has two female National Commissioners and a female Secretary to the Commission, who serves as the administrative head of the institution. At the state level, six Resident Electoral Commissioners and eight Administrative Secretaries are women providing leadership and oversight.
Within the management cadre at Headquarters, 10 out of the 23 Directors, representing over 43 per cent, are women. In the field offices, 218 out of the 774 Electoral Officers across the country are female.
“These women, working alongside their male counterparts, are contributing in no small measure to the growth, efficiency, and credibility of the Commission,” he said, commending their professionalism and dedication.
The INEC Chairman also referenced key institutional reforms undertaken by the Commission, including the establishment of a Gender and Inclusivity Department in April 2021 to strengthen gender mainstreaming across its operations. In addition, he announced the appointment of Hajiya Hadiza Abubakar Talba as Special Adviser on Gender and Inclusivity to further drive the Commission’s agenda in that regard.
Earlier in his welcome address, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Outreach and Partnership Committee, Prof. Abdullahi Abdu-Zuru described the theme of the celebration, “Give to Gain: Advancing Women Leadership for Inclusive Progress,” as a call to sustained action.
“This is not merely ceremonial,” he said. “It is a moment for reflection on our institutional journey and a recommitment to purposeful action.”
He noted that women in the Commission currently serve as National Commissioners, Secretary to the Commission, Resident Electoral Commissioners, Administrative Secretaries and Directors, describing their performance as a reflection of competence and equitable opportunity within the institution.
In her presentation on the Commission’s journey so far, the Secretary to the Commission, Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony described the progress made in advancing women’s participation as steady, structured, and policy-driven.
She recalled earlier years when the Commission had only one female National Commissioner and no female Resident Electoral Commissioners, noting that perceptions about elections once limited women’s participation in field operations.
“But we have evolved tremendously,” she said. “Our journey has been deliberate. We grew from the bottom up.”
Dr. Oriaran-Anthony highlighted the Commission’s Gender Policy Framework as a cornerstone of its progress, explaining that gender desks have been established across all state offices while targeted training and leadership development initiatives have strengthened female staff capacity.
“As we gave opportunities to women, the Commission gained enhanced productivity and improved stakeholder trust,” she added. “By giving, we gained.”
The event was attended by National Commissioners, Women in Leadership positions in the Commission across the country who joined virtually, senior officials, invited guests, and staff of the Commission.
Prof. Amupitan formally declared the celebration open, reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to strengthening inclusivity within Nigeria’s electoral process as preparations continue for 2027.
END
