By Nkechi Eze
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, has led a Nigerian delegation to the International Election Observation Programme (IEOP) for the Nationwide Simultaneous Local Elections in the Republic of Korea, as part of efforts to strengthen electoral administration and deepen democratic governance.
The programme, organised by the National Election Commission of South Korea, commenced on May 30, 2026, in Seoul and will run until June 5, 2026. It brings together election management bodies, electoral experts and international observers from different countries to observe and exchange knowledge on the conduct of local government elections in South Korea.
Professor Amupitan was accompanied by INEC National Commissioner, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu; the Chief Technical Adviser to the Chairman, Professor Dimis Mai-Lafia; and the Director of Training, Dr. Binta Kasim Mohammed.
As part of the observation activities, the INEC delegation visited a polling centre in Mia-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, where they observed early voting operations and gained firsthand insight into South Korea’s electoral processes, procedures and voter management systems.
The Commission said participation in the programme would provide valuable opportunities for knowledge sharing and exposure to emerging global trends in election administration, electoral observation and democratic governance.
The visit is expected to further enhance INEC’s capacity to adopt international best practices and strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system in line with its commitment to promoting credible, transparent and inclusive elections.
