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Independent National Electoral Commission (Nigeria)

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Independent National Electoral Commission (Nigeria)
INEC headquarters, 2019
Agency overview
Formed1998
Preceding agency
  • National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON)
JurisdictionFederal Government of Nigeria
Headquarters
  • Abuja
Agency executive
  • Joash Ojo Amupitan, Chairman
Websitehttps://inecnigeria.org

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the federal electoral management body responsible for organising and supervising elections in Nigeria. Its constitutional responsibilities include elections for the offices of President, vice-president, state governors and deputy governors, as well as elections to the National Assembly and state houses of assembly. INEC also registers and monitors political parties and maintains the national register of voters.[1]

The present commission was established in 1998 shortly before Nigeria's transition from military to civilian rule. INEC is currently chaired by Joash Amupitan, who was sworn into office on 23 October 2025.[2]

History

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Regulation and administration of elections

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The administration of democratic elections in Nigeria dates back to the period before Independence when the Electoral Commission of Nigeria (ECN) was inaugurated in 1958 to conduct the 1959[3] federal elections. Prior to 1958, regional laws and government regulated and conducted elections.[4][5] ECN was headed by an expatriate, Ronald Edward Wraith and four Nigerian members representing each region and the Federal Capital Territory of Lagos. The Federal Electoral Commission, established in 1960, conducted the immediate post-independence federal and regional elections of 1964 and 1965.[6] Prior to the conduct of the 1964 election, the Chief Electoral Officer, Kofo Abayomi resigned and some party officials from the NCNC and Action Group doubted the credibility of a free and fair election.[7] The electoral body was dissolved after the military coup of 1966 in Nigeria.[8] In 1978, a new Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) was constituted by the regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo, organizing the elections of 1979 which ushered in the Nigerian Second Republic under the leadership of Alhaji Shehu Shagari.[9] It also conducted the general elections of 1983.[10]

In December 1995, the military government under the leadership of general Sani Abacha established the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria which conducted another set of elections. These elected institutions were not inaugurated before the sudden death of General Abacha in June 1998 aborted the process. In 1998, General Abdulsalam Abubakar's Administration dissolved National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) and established the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).[3][4] INEC organized the transitional elections that ushered in the Nigerian Fourth Republic on May 29, 1999.[10][11]

The chairman of the first Nigerian Federal Electoral Commission was Chief Eyo Esua (1964–1966) in the First Republic. When General Olusegun Obasanjo prepared for a return to civilian power in the Second Republic, he established a new Federal Electoral Commission headed by Chief Michael Ani to supervise the 1979 elections. Ani was succeeded by Justice Victor Ovie Whisky. During the Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha regimes, which attempted returns to democracy, the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria was headed by professor Eme Awa (1987–1989), professor Humphrey Nwosu (1989–1993), professor Okon Uya and chief Sumner Dagogo-Jack (1994–1998).[12][13]

Leadership

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General Abdulsalami Abubakar established the current INEC, with Justice Ephraim Akpata as chairman. Akpata had to deal with 26 applications for party, but approving only nine for the 1998/1999 elections, eventually reduced to three.[14] Despite efforts to ensure free and fair elections, the process drew serious criticism from international observers.[15] After Akpata died in January 2000, the government of President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Abel Guobadia Nigeria's Chief Electoral Officer, a position that was confirmed by the Nigerian Senate in May 2000.[16] Guobadia was responsible for the 2003 elections, which were marred by widespread violence and other irregularities.[17]

In June 2005, Guobadia retired and was succeeded by professor Maurice Iwu. Soon after being appointed, Iwu announced that foreign monitors would not be allowed during elections, but only foreign election observers. This decision was condemned by politicians and civil society groups who called for his immediate removal from office.[18] The conduct of the 2007 elections was again criticized as falling below acceptable democratic standards.[19]

On 8 June 2010, professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega was nominated by President Goodluck Jonathan as the new INEC Chairman, subject to Senate confirmation, as a replacement for Iwu, who had vacated the post on 28 April 2010.[20] Jega's nomination as INEC chairman followed approval by a meeting of the National Council of State called by President Jonathan and attended by former heads of state Yakubu Gowon, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Ernest Shonekan, Olusegun Obasanjo and Shehu Shagari. The Senate President David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representatives Oladimeji Bankole, and most of the state Governors also attended the meeting. Unanimous approval by the council of the nominee for this critical appointment avoided controversy about whether or not the President should appoint the chairman of the INEC.[21] Reactions to the announcement from a broad spectrum of political leaders and organisations were positive, although some voiced concern that it could be too late to implement real reforms before the 2011 elections.[22]

During the campaign for the 2015 Nigerian general elections, Attahiru Jega "faced fierce criticism from both the opposition and the ruling party."[23] Attahiru Jega's five-year term came to an end on June 30, 2015, and though he was qualified for re-appointment, the chances of such became remote given the allegations of bias against him by campaign officials of President Goodluck.[24] President Mohammadu Buhari appointed professor Mahmood Yakubu as INEC Chairman, Yakubu took over from Amina Bala-Zakari, who was the acting chairman after Jega left.[25]

Mahmood Yakubu was succeeded by May Agbamuche-Mbu, in October 7, 2025, as Acting Chairperson, after the former's completion of a second five-year tenure. On 8 October 2025, Joash Amupitan, a professor of law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria was finally nominated as the INEC Chairman,[26][27] replacing Agbamuche-Mbu. The Senate confirmed his appointment on 16 October 2025, and he was sworn in by President Bola Tinubu on 23 October 2025.[28][29]

List of chairpersons[30]
S/N Name Year (duration) Capacity Major Election supervised
1 Justice Ephraim Akpata 1998–2000 Chairman 1999 General Election
2 Dr. Abel Guobadia 2000–2005 Chairman 2003 General Election
3 Prof. Maurice Iwu 2005–2010 Chairman 2007 General Election
4 Prof. Attahiru Jega 2010–2015 Chairman 2011 and 2015 General Elections
5 Amina Bala Zakari 30 June 2015 – 9 November 2015 Acting Chairperson N/A
6 Prof. Mahmood Yakubu 2015–2025 Chairman 2019 and 2023
7 May Agbamuche–Mbu 7 October 2025 – 9 October 2025 Acting Chairperson N/A
8 Prof. Joash Amupitan October 2025–present Chairman 2027 General Election Preparations

Electoral technology and results management

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INEC has progressively introduced electronic systems for voter accreditation and the publication of polling-unit results. The INEC Result Viewing portal (IReV) was first deployed during the Nasarawa Central State Constituency bye-election in August 2020.[31] The portal enables polling unit result sheets to be uploaded and made available for public viewing.[32]

The commission subsequently developed the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which uses fingerprint or facial recognition to authenticate registered voters. BVAS was first deployed in the Isoko South I State Constituency bye-election in Delta State in September 2021. It was subsequently used in the November 2021 Anambra State governorship election, which the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room described as the first major election in which INEC deployed the system.[33][34]

BVAS and IReV perform related but distinct functions. While BVAS is used at polling units for biometric voter accreditation and can also capture images of polling unit results for upload, IReV is the online platform through which the uploaded result forms are made publicly accessible.[32]

The 2023 general elections was the first Nigerian election in which BVAS and IReV were deployed nationwide. The European Union Election Observation Mission reported that BVAS was generally able to accredit voters without significant problems on both election days. It separately reported substantial delays in the uploading and publication of presidential polling-unit result forms on IReV. At the time the presidential result was declared, more than one quarter of the presidential polling-unit result forms were still unavailable on the portal. The mission concluded that the delays and limited transparency surrounding the implementation of the technology contributed to reduced public confidence in the results process.[35]

The legal status of the technologies was strengthened by the Electoral Act 2026, which repealed the Electoral Act 2022. Section 47 of the 2026 Act expressly provides for the use of BVAS, or another technological device prescribed by INEC, for voter accreditation. Section 60 requires polling-unit results to be electronically transmitted to the IReV portal after the prescribed result form has been completed and signed. Where electronic transmission is impossible because of communication failure, the Act provides that the signed Form EC8A remains the primary source for collation and declaration of the result.[36]

Controversies

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The INEC has encountered several controversies in the run-up to elections in the country, most notably the April 2007 general elections, including criticism about its preparedness from Sa'ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto[37] and a dispute over its "disqualification" of Vice president Atiku Abubakar's candidacy.[38] The Supreme Court ruled that the INEC can not disqualify candidates, so Abubakar's name was added to ballots at the last minute.[39]

On the subject of election irregularities, INEC spokesman Philip Umeadi said on April 19, 2007, that "We are not sitting on any crisis in Nigeria".[40] The mission of INEC is to serve as an independent and effective Election Management Bodies (EMB) committed to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections for sustainable democracy in Nigeria. The vision of INEC is to be one of the best Election Management Bodies (EMB) in the world that meets the aspirations of the Nigerian people.

In January 2015, the "#BringBackOurGirls group raised the alarm over plans by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to exclude Chibok and some communities currently under the control of the Boko Haram from getting the permanent voter cards (PVCs) for the February elections."[41]

In the buildup to 2015 general elections, the INEC under Jega introduced smart card reader for the verification of voters and their voting cards to minimize incidence of fraud and rigging.[42] The introduction of card readers was hailed by many Nigerians but a group of four minor political parties who claimed to be acting on behalf of 15 political parties kicked against it and urged the INEC to suspend the use of card readers in the 2015 elections.[43] The 2015 general elections were adjudged the most credible, free and fair elections since the return of democracy in 1999.[44][45]

The INEC was accused of widespread electoral irregularities in the 2019 presidential elections including cases of ballot paper unavailability, smart card readers malfunctioning, and large cancellation of valid votes. The main opposition People's Democratic Party and its presidential candidate challenged the results of the election in court.[46]

INEC State Offices

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Each state office is led by a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC). State offices include those in:

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Following the announcement of the 2023 Nigerian presidential election, both Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi filed petitions before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), challenging the results.[53] Their petitions alleged widespread irregularities, technical failures in INEC’s electronic transmission of results, and non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act.[54][55]

INEC denied allegations of malpractice, maintaining that the election was conducted in substantial compliance with the law. To defend its position, the Commission appointed a team of Senior Advocates of Nigeria led by Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud. The team included Oluwakemi Pinheiro, Stephen Adehi, Miannaya Essien, and Abdullahi Aliyu.[56][57]

On 6 September 2023, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal dismissed the petitions, ruling that the opposition parties failed to prove substantial non-compliance or fraud. The Tribunal upheld INEC’s declaration of Bola Tinubu as president-elect.[58] On 26 October 2023, the Supreme Court of Nigeria affirmed the Tribunal’s judgment, dismissing the appeals filed by Obi and Atiku as lacking merit.[59][60]

2027 presidential election

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On 19 August 2026, INEC lifted the campaign ban for the 2027 Nigeria general election.[61][62]

On February 5th, 2026, INEC approved the registration of new political parties - Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA).[63]

References

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  1. ↑ "Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria" (PDF). Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre. Section 153 and Third Schedule, Part I, paragraph 15. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  2. ↑ "Tinubu swears in Joash Amupitan as INEC chairman". TheCable. 23 October 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  3. 1 2 Odimayo, Kelechi (18 January 2019). "History of INEC in Nigeria". Legit.ng. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  4. 1 2 "INEC History – INEC Nigeria". www.inecnigeria.org. Archived from the original on 28 June 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  5. ↑ Myths of peace & democracy?: towards building pillars of hope, unity and transformation in Africa. Marongwe, Ngonidzashe, Mawere, Munyaradzi. Mankon, Bamenda, Cameroon. September 2016. pp. 128–131. ISBN 978-9956-764-60-0. OCLC 965355951.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. ↑ "ACE". aceproject.org. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  7. ↑ Alao, Akin (1 October 2001). "The Republican Constitution of 1963: The Supreme Court and Federalism in Nigeria". University of Miami International and Comparative Law Review. 10 (2): 91.
  8. ↑ "1966 Coup: How violence was unleashed on northern officials in London High Commission-Amb Ukume". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. 29 December 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  9. ↑ Kuforiji, AbdulWasiu (26 November 2019). "Functions of INEC and other Details". Nigerian Finder. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
  10. 1 2 "INEC History". Independent National Electoral Commission. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  11. ↑ Chika Mefor; Ejike Ejike (8 January 2015). "allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Elections - BBOG Group Raises the Alarm Over Plans to Exclude Chibok From Voting". Leadership (Abuja) - allAfrica.com. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  12. ↑ "Maurice Iwu And The Clamour For His Sack". The Tide. Port Harcourt, Nigeria. 21 March 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  13. ↑ "Electoral Commission Through the Years". NBF News. 7 June 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  14. ↑ Jude Opara (2 June 2009). "INEC 10 Years After - an Appraisal". daily Champion. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  15. ↑ "Observing the 1998-99 Nigeria Elections" (PDF). Carter Center, NDI. Summer 1999. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  16. ↑ "Abel Guobadia Takes Helm in Nigeria" (PDF). Elections Today. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 November 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  17. ↑ "Nigeria's 2003 Elections - The Unacknowledged Violence". Human Rights Watch. 1 June 2004. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  18. ↑ "The Many Battles of Maurice Iwu". ThisDay. 30 March 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  19. ↑ Ofeibea Quist-Arcton (23 April 2007). "Nigerian Election Results Hotly Disputed". NPR. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  20. ↑ Mohammed S. Shehu (9 June 2010). "Attahiru Jega a Radical At INEC". Daily Trust. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  21. ↑ Daniel Idonor (9 June 2010). "Attahiru Jega is New INEC Boss". Vanguard. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  22. ↑ "Cautious Optimism Trail Jega's Appointment". Vanguard. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  23. ↑ "Nigeria: Five Key Figures to Watch in Nigeria Election". allAfrica.com: Vanguard. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  24. ↑ Soni Daniel (2 March 2015). "Tension Mounts on Presidency over Jega". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  25. ↑ "Breaking: Buhari appoints Mahmood Yakubu as INEC chairman". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  26. ↑ "Council of State approves Amupitan as new INEC chairman". The Punch. 9 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  27. ↑ Adeduyite, Okiki (9 October 2025). "Council of State approves Amupitan as new INEC chairman". The Punch. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  28. ↑ Eboesomi, Sharon (16 October 2025). "Updated: Senate confirms Amupitan as INEC chair". Premium Times. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  29. ↑ Abdullah, Abdulsalam. "Tinubu swears in Joash Amupitan as INEC chairman".
  30. ↑ "Past electoral body chairmen: From ECN to INEC". Daily Trust. Retrieved 17 September 2026.
  31. ↑ "Inspiring confidence in the BVAS and Electronic Transmission of Election Results: Seven Urgent Actions for INEC". www.idea.int. Retrieved 29 September 2026.
  32. 1 2 "Inspiring confidence in the BVAS and Electronic Transmission of Election Results: Seven Urgent Actions for INEC". www.idea.int. Retrieved 17 September 2026.
  33. ↑ Report of the 2023 General Election (PDF) (Report). Independent National Electoral Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  34. ↑ Anambra State Governorship Election 2021 (PDF) (Report). Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room. 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  35. ↑ European Union Election Observation Mission Nigeria 2023: Final Report (PDF) (Report). European Union Election Observation Mission. 2023. pp. 18–20. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  36. ↑ Electoral Act, 2026. National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  37. ↑ "Sultan slams Nigeria's election preparations". Angola Press website. Angola Press Agency. 17 March 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 19 March 2007.
  38. ↑ Chesa, Chesa; Kazeem Akintunde. "Atiku Can't Stop Elections – Obasanjo". Daily Independent Online Edition. Independent Newspapers. Retrieved 19 March 2007.
  39. ↑ "Abubakar to run for Nigeria presidency". Independent Online. Independent News & Media. 17 April 2007. Retrieved 20 April 2007.
  40. ↑ Polgreen, Lydia (20 April 2007). "Nigeria Frets Over How to Give Voters a Real Say". The New York Times. p. A3. Retrieved 20 April 2007.
  41. ↑ "Nigeria: Elections - BBOG Group Raises the Alarm Over Plans to Exclude Chibok From Voting". allAfrica.com. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  42. ↑ "Questions And Answers On Card Readers". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. 27 February 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  43. ↑ "4 Political Parties Want Jega Fired; Threaten To Boycott Elections Over Card Readers". SilverbirdTV. 5 March 2015. Archived from the original on 11 June 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  44. ↑ "Jega". TheCable. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  45. ↑ Ugwuanyi, Sylvester (21 June 2015). "The use of card readers in elections has come to stay – Jega". Daily Post. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  46. ↑ Thisday Newspapers (27 February 2019). "NBA Accuses INEC Officials of Aiding Election Rigging". This Day.
  47. ↑ "Declare Otti Abia's elected gov, APGA writes INEC". The Sun. Lagos, Nigeria. 18 April 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  48. ↑ "Suspected Party Hoodlums Set INEC Office On Fire In Abia State". Channels TV. 2 August 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  49. ↑ Omeiza Ajayi (28 January 2016). "INEC redeploys Rivers REC, eight others". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 20 May 2016.[permanent dead link]
  50. ↑ "Anxiety in Rivers as residents go to polls tomorrow". The Nation. Lagos, Nigeria. The Nation. 10 April 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  51. ↑ "INEC State Offices". INEC. Archived from the original on 14 March 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  52. ↑ Dikewoha, Precious (4 February 2015). "INEC in Rivers set for poll". The Nation. Lagos, Nigeria. The Nation. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  53. ↑ "Opposition Parties in Nigeria Call for Election Rerun, Citing Vote Rigging (Published 2023)". 28 February 2023. Archived from the original on 22 September 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  54. ↑ Larry Madowo; Nimi Princewill; Bethlehem Feleke (2 March 2023). "Peter Obi vows to challenge Nigerian election result: 'We won and we will prove it'". CNN. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  55. ↑ "Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar vow to challenge Nigeria election result". BBC News. 2 March 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  56. ↑ Habib, Gift (2 April 2023). "INEC appoints nine SANs to defend election". The Punch. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  57. ↑ "Tinubu: INEC Hires Ex-NBA President, Eight Other Senior Advocates to Defend Election". This Day. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  58. ↑ "Nigeria court dismisses opposition petition against Bola Tinubu's win". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  59. ↑ "Nigeria's Supreme Court Upholds Tinubu's Presidency". www.voaafrica.com. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  60. ↑ Bankole, Idowu (27 October 2023). "Supreme Court affirms Tinubu's election, dismisses Atiku, Obi's appeals". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  61. ↑ "2027: INEC Lifts Campaign Ban for Presidential and NASS Elections on Wednesday – Crucible Nigeria". 18 August 2026. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  62. ↑ Abuja, Tony Akowe (17 August 2026). "2027: INEC lifts campaign ban for presidential, NASS elections Wednesday". The Nation. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  63. ↑ Omolaoye, Sodiq (5 February 2026). "INEC registers two new political parties". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
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