Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The United Nations has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the successful conduct of the recent Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election and constituency elections in parts of the country, describing the exercise as a critical test that was passed with commendable results. This was contained in the INEC Daily Bulletin, Volume 2, Number 436 of February 27, 2026.
Leading a UN delegation on a courtesy visit to INEC Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, 26th February 2026, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed M. Fall, hailed the Commission’s performance in emphatic terms:
“We have been watching. We saw last weekend, it was a trial, it was a test, but it was a very successful one, and I want to congratulate you. I’m so proud of you.”
The visit came days after the Commission conducted the FCT Area Council election across the six Area Councils and the constituency elections in Kano and Rivers States.
Welcoming the delegation, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, expressed appreciation for the UN’s continued partnership and reaffirmed Nigeria’s position as Africa’s largest democracy. He noted that the Commission’s constitutional mandate covers elections into the offices of the President and Vice President, members of the National Assembly, Governors and Deputy Governors, State Houses of Assembly, as well as Area Council Chairmen and Councillors in the FCT.
He described the peaceful conduct of the FCT election as encouraging and assured the delegation that the Commission remains steadfast in its resolve to deepen electoral integrity.
“Our mandate is constitutional and sacred,” the INEC Chairman stated. “We cannot afford to fail our people. Our aspiration is that every election we conduct must be better than the last.”
Prof. Amupitan highlighted the Commission’s longstanding collaboration with the United Nations system, particularly in technical assistance, voter education, institutional strengthening, gender mainstreaming, and inclusivity. He described the visit as a timely reinforcement of that partnership as INEC prepares for forthcoming off-cycle governorship elections and the 2027 General Election.
Acknowledging challenges faced by election management bodies across Africa, including voter apathy, insecurity, public trust deficits, and the threat of misinformation and disinformation, Prof. Amupitan stressed that deliberate falsehoods pose significant risks to institutional credibility.
He further disclosed that the Commission is strengthening safeguards around its result transmission process to enhance transparency and public confidence. According to him, steps are also being taken to improve the integrity of the voters’ register by removing deceased persons and eliminating duplicates to ensure more accurate electoral statistics.
In addition, he said INEC is enhancing its electoral data systems to provide verifiable and scientific information, including detailed deployment records for polling units, positioning the Commission as the primary and most reliable source of electoral data in Nigeria.
Mr. Fall, speaking on behalf of the 26 UN agencies operating in Nigeria, reaffirmed the organisation’s readiness to provide global expertise and best practices in electoral governance.
“Your success will be our success,” he said, emphasising that Nigeria’s democratic progress carries implications not only for West Africa but for the African continent and beyond.
He noted that beyond the mechanics of elections, the United Nations considers credible elections central to sustainable development and participatory governance, stressing the importance of ensuring that women, youth, and persons with disabilities are fully included in the democratic process.
Also speaking, the UN Resident Representative, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, congratulated the INEC Chairman and the Commission’s leadership, recalling the UN’s partnership with INEC since 1999. She observed that the UN supports about 60 elections globally each year and has, over time, contributed to Nigeria’s electoral reforms, technological advancements and voter education initiatives.
She expressed the UN’s willingness to further strengthen collaboration, including leveraging existing programmes and exploring dedicated electoral support initiatives based on the Commission’s identified priorities.
The visit reaffirmed the enduring partnership between INEC and the United Nations, anchored on shared democratic values and a collective commitment to sustaining credible, inclusive and transparent elections in Nigeria.
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