The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, has called on Commission staff nationwide to turn the discipline of Ramadan into a renewed commitment to electoral integrity as Nigeria heads into the 2026 off‑cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states and the 2027 General Election. In a special Eid‑el‑Fitr message issued from INEC headquarters on Friday, March 20, 2026, he described the end of the fast as a “victory of the spirit over the self” and a symbolic moment for the Commission as it prepares for critical electoral milestones.
Professor Amupitan highlighted the rare overlap between Ramadan and the Christian Lenten season, saying the simultaneous fasting and prayer within the Commission reinforce a shared responsibility toward the Nigerian project. He stressed that the lessons of patience, integrity, and empathy from the holy month are exactly what staff need as INEC works to restore public trust and curb voter apathy. Directly addressing over 14,000 INEC staff across the 774 local government areas, he reaffirmed that staff welfare is a cornerstone of his leadership, citing the recent Iftar‑at‑the‑Commission event, IN’s first such institutional gathering in eight years, as proof of his “staff‑first” approach.
The Chairman warned that professional excellence is non‑negotiable, demanding a zero‑tolerance stance on misconduct to ensure the credibility of the electoral process. He noted that the 2026 off‑cycle polls in Ekiti and Osun now serve as the first major test of the reforms he has pushed since taking office on October 23, 2025, including the adoption and strict enforcement of the Electoral Act 2026 and the use of tools like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
With preparations intensifying for the Ekiti and Osun contests, Prof. Amupitan emphasised that internal discipline, improved working conditions, and a motivated workforce are essential to insulating the Commission from political pressure and delivering free, fair, and credible elections.