The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has assured Nigerians that their votes will count in the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan gave the assurance on Friday during a courtesy visit to former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), at his residence in Minna, Niger State.
The INEC chairman led a delegation comprising National Commissioners, the Secretary to the Commission, directors and his technical aides.
Describing Abubakar as “the father of democracy in Nigeria”, Amupitan said the former military leader’s transition to civilian rule in 1999 marked a defining moment in the country’s democratic history.
He said the commission regarded Abubakar “not merely as a statesman but as a pillar of support for INEC”.
Amupitan also praised Abubakar’s leadership of the National Peace Committee, describing its Peace Accord initiative as “a moralising influence on Nigeria’s political ecosystem”.
According to INEC, the chairman said the initiative had provided political actors with a platform to commit to non-violence, thereby strengthening “the sovereignty of the will of the Nigerian people”.
Describing the visit as “a pilgrimage of appreciation”, Amupitan acknowledged Abubakar’s contributions to peaceful coexistence, credible elections and democratic stability. He also congratulated the former Head of State on his 84th birthday.
The INEC chairman reiterated that, despite the challenges and pressures confronting the commission, it remained committed to ensuring that the will of Nigerians, as expressed through the ballot, would prevail in the 2027 general elections.
