Chairman,e Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has urged staff of the Commission to remain neutral, professional and accountable in the discharge of their duties ahead of the 2027 general elections

Amupitan gave the charge during an engagement with staff of the commission at the Enugu State headquarters on Monday .

Director of Voter Education and Publicity, in a statement quoted Amupitan as saying the commission had begun preparations for the elections, with some non-sensitive materials already arriving and contracts awarded for the upgrade of its facilities.

“I am happy that some of the non-sensitive materials have started arriving. I am also happy that contracts have been awarded to upgrade our facilities,” he said.

The INEC Chairman said the Commission was also procuring vehicles and other logistics to support its operations across the country.

He added that additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation Systems (BVAS) had been ordered ahead of the elections.

He said the configuration of the BVAS devices and training of personnel would begin soon. The training would cover changes under the new Electoral Act, as well as the guidelines and regulations for the conduct of the 2027 General Election.

Amupitan stressed that staff must remain neutral and avoid any conduct that could raise doubts about their impartiality.

“You don’t belong to any political party, and you should not be seen with any politician. You should be seen to be neutral. That is why, before an election, you must swear to an oath of neutrality,” he said.

He also charged staff to uphold professionalism, understand their responsibilities and carry out their duties diligently.

“We want to have a workforce that will be one of the best in Africa. So, you must be professional in words and action, and you must be a master of your role. Be on top of your role and discharge your duties diligently,” he said.

The Chairman warned that the Commission would not tolerate any action capable of undermining the credibility of the elections, stressing that staff would be held accountable for their conduct.

“Accountability is paramount. We need to guard against any act that would undermine the sanctity of the election. There is a reward for good work and consequences for misconduct,” he said.

On logistics, Prof. Amupitan said INEC was working to ensure the timely deployment of election materials, activation of Registration Area Centres (RACs) and commencement of voting across polling units nationwide.

He added that the Commission was working with security agencies to protect its staff, electoral infrastructure and voters. He also said efforts were ongoing to address threats against INEC personnel and ad hoc staff.

The Chairman stressed the need for transparent and effective result management, urging the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Voter Registry units to remain prepared for their responsibilities.

On staff welfare, Prof. Amupitan said the Commission remained committed to improving the welfare of its personnel. He noted that a new salary structure form INEC staff had been approved and the Commission is leaving no stone unturned to begin implementation of the new salary which takes effect from January 2026. He added that the Commission was also working on other packages to improve staff welfare.

He urged staff to support the Commission’s preparations by remaining neutral, professional and accountable, expressing confidence that their commitment would contribute to the successful conduct of the 2027 General Election.