Canada has pledged continued support for Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 General Election, with INEC identifying the Osun poll as a benchmark for future elections.
The Canadian High Commission made the commitment when its Chargé d’Affaires, David Sproule, led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.
Sproule said Canada was committed to supporting countries seeking stronger democratic processes and elections that are free, fair and trusted by citizens.
He expressed particular interest in INEC’s preparations for the 2027 General Election and pledged continued Canadian engagement in electoral participation, women’s inclusion, public awareness, technical assistance and election observation.
The Canadian envoy said his country would also share relevant information and expertise that could contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s electoral processes, noting that both countries shared the objective of ensuring credible and legitimate elections.
Receiving the delegation, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, described the relationship between Nigeria and Canada as a longstanding partnership anchored on mutual respect, democratic values, the rule of law and good governance.
Amupitan appreciated Canada’s support for electoral governance, civic education, institutional strengthening and gender inclusion, while reaffirming INEC’s mandate to conduct “free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive elections” that reflect the sovereign will of Nigerians.
The chairman said recent off-cycle elections had provided opportunities for INEC to test electoral reforms and improve its operational frameworks, citing the Anambra and Ekiti governorship elections as well as the FCT Area Council elections.
He singled out the August 15, 2026 Osun State Governorship Election as a major reference point, saying 3,556 of the 3,763 polling units, representing 94.5 per cent, opened for accreditation and voting by 8:30 a.m.
Amupitan also cited BVAS performance, result uploads on the IReV portal and crisis management during the exercise as areas that informed the Commission’s assessment.
“We view the success in Osun not as a final destination, but as the gold standard that will guide our preparations for 2027,” he said.
The chairman disclosed that statutory campaigns and rallies for the 2027 General Election commenced on August 19, 2026, following the signing of the First National Peace Accord on Issue-Based Campaigns by presidential candidates the previous day.
Looking ahead, Amupitan listed five areas of focus for INEC: consolidating technological gains, deepening electoral inclusivity, strengthening institutional capacity and technical support, countering misinformation and safeguarding electoral integrity.
He said the Commission would conduct a nationwide mock accreditation exercise in November 2026 to subject the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and other electoral equipment to field testing before the general election.
The exercise, he said, would help assess INEC’s readiness and expose potential operational challenges requiring attention ahead of the polls.
Amupitan also disclosed that preparations for the 2027 election would involve about 1.4 million ad-hoc personnel across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide.
On the use of artificial intelligence, the chairman announced the establishment of a dedicated AI Unit to explore its responsible application in data management, voter registration and results transmission, while strengthening safeguards against misuse.
He said INEC would participate in the Global Conference on Responsible AI and Elections, organised by the UNDP and Elections Canada, scheduled for September 9–11, 2026, in Ottawa.
Amupitan said the conference would enable INEC to examine responsible applications of AI in elections and develop responses to threats such as deepfakes and disinformation.
He also appealed to the Canadian High Commission to assist with expedited entry visas for members of the INEC delegation attending the Ottawa conference.
Reaffirming INEC’s independence and neutrality, Amupitan assured the Canadian delegation and the international community of the Commission’s “absolute independence, neutrality, and unyielding commitment to democratic integrity.”
Both sides pledged continued engagement and deeper cooperation towards Nigeria’s democratic development and the successful conduct of the 2027 General Election.