The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has warned electoral officials against showing allegiance to any political party, insisting that neutrality and professionalism are essential to credible elections.
Amupitan gave the warning on Monday, October 19, 2026, during an interactive meeting with INEC staff from the South-East region in Enugu, where he also announced plans to introduce a special salary structure for commission employees from January 1, 2027.
The INEC chairman expressed concern over reports that some staff members were showing interest in political parties, describing such conduct as unacceptable for officials responsible for overseeing elections.
He urged personnel to remain impartial in their words and actions, warning that the commission would not tolerate unethical behaviour or professional misconduct capable of undermining public confidence in the electoral process.
“You should not pick interest in any political party. Be neutral and firm,” Amupitan told the staff.
He stressed that electoral officials must perform their duties without favouring any candidate or political organization, particularly as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.
INEC introduces reward and sanction mechanism
To strengthen discipline and accountability, Amupitan disclosed that the commission had established a reward and sanction mechanism covering its local government, state and national offices.
The initiative is intended to encourage professionalism while ensuring that staff members who violate established rules are held accountable.
He maintained that public confidence in INEC depends largely on the conduct of its personnel, noting that the commission must demonstrate fairness and integrity at every stage of the electoral process.
The chairman urged employees to discharge their responsibilities diligently and avoid actions that could create doubts about the credibility of elections.
New salary structure to begin in 2027
Amupitan also announced that INEC was working to move its personnel away from the conventional civil service salary structure to a special remuneration arrangement.
According to him, the new structure is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, subject to the necessary financial arrangements.
He explained that improving staff welfare was part of efforts to reduce the risk of electoral officials being influenced or bribed before, during and after elections.
The commission, he said, was working with relevant government agencies and commissions to secure the funding required to implement the proposed arrangement.
The chairman expressed hope that better remuneration, combined with stronger disciplinary measures, would help improve staff commitment and protect the integrity of election administration.
INEC steps up preparations for 2027 elections
Amupitan further disclosed that preparations for the 2027 general elections were progressing, with logistics and other operational requirements receiving attention.
He said 10 new pickup vans had been provided for the commission’s Enugu office, adding that additional logistics would be made available as preparations continued.
According to him, non-sensitive election materials were ready, while procurement processes for other required materials were ongoing.
He also announced plans for extensive training and retraining of personnel to familiarize them with new guidelines and regulations introduced under the amended Electoral Act.
The chairman said these preparations were necessary to ensure that staff members understood their responsibilities and could carry them out professionally.
As political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections, Amupitan’s warning reinforces INEC’s position that electoral officials must remain neutral, uphold the law and resist attempts to compromise their duties.
The commission’s ability to enforce these standards will be crucial to maintaining public trust and ensuring that voters have confidence in the electoral process.
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