The Arewa Youth Forum (AYF) has commended the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, for what it described as his exemplary leadership and the significant improvement in the conduct of elections across the country, pledging the Forum’s full support and collaboration ahead of the 2027 general election.
The commendation was made during a courtesy visit by a high-powered AYF delegation to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday. The delegation, led by the Chairman of the Forum’s Board of Trustees, Alhaji Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, praised the Commission’s growing record of conducting transparent, peaceful and credible elections under Professor Amupitan’s leadership.
Speaking during the visit, Alhaji Gujungu said the Forum was impressed by the improvements recorded in recent elections, particularly in logistics, the timely deployment of election materials and adherence to established electoral guidelines despite prevailing operational challenges.
“We stand before you today to commend the hard work of your leadership and the successes recorded in the recent elections held across the country. The improvement in logistics, timely deployment of materials, and adherence to election guidelines despite enormous challenges are commendable,” he said.
He particularly lauded INEC’s deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), describing the technology as a major milestone in Nigeria’s electoral process that has strengthened transparency, curtailed electoral fraud and ensured that election outcomes reflect the genuine wishes of the electorate.
The AYF leader also condemned what he described as politically motivated attacks against the electoral umpire, noting that the Forum’s engagements across northern Nigeria revealed that misinformation campaigns, rather than genuine operational shortcomings, were largely responsible for attempts to undermine public confidence in the Commission.
“An independent electoral body must be judged on facts and evidence, not propaganda. AYF strongly rejects the politicisation of INEC, especially at this critical time in our national history,” he stated.
Responding, the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, expressed appreciation to the Forum for what he described as an uncommon display of objectivity, noting that public recognition of the Commission’s achievements was rare in the prevailing media environment.
He said the visit and expression of confidence by the Arewa Youth Forum would further strengthen the Commission’s resolve as it intensifies preparations for the 2027 general election.
Professor Amupitan disclosed that the Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 15, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027. He called on Nigerians to support the Commission in its efforts to deliver elections that would serve as a model for democratic practice across Africa.
“Nigeria has the largest democracy in Africa. For it to be well with Africa, Nigeria must get it right. And we are committed and determined to ensure that we face that election head on,” he said.
The INEC Chairman cited the recently concluded Ekiti State Governorship Election as evidence of the Commission’s improving operational standards, recalling reports by observers on the early arrival of election officials, the peaceful atmosphere at polling units and the seamless deployment of electoral materials. He added that the Commission would build on those successes in subsequent elections.
During the meeting, the Arewa Youth Forum proposed a strategic partnership with INEC in two key areas. The first is a grassroots voter education campaign across northern Nigeria, to be undertaken in collaboration with the Commission’s Voter Education and Publicity Department, focusing on voter mobilisation, technology literacy and campaigns against vote-buying. The second proposal is the establishment of a post-election feedback mechanism through which AYF field coordinators would gather and submit polling unit-level reports on logistics, staff conduct and technology performance after each election.
Welcoming the proposals, Professor Amupitan directed the Commission’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity to immediately establish a formal liaison with the Forum to deepen grassroots voter education and public engagement across northern Nigeria.
The AYF, which said it represents between two and three million youths across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, also pledged to mobilise its members to respect electoral laws, reject misinformation, report electoral offenders and contribute actively towards safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general election.
