INEC — the Independent National Electoral Commission — is the body established by the Nigerian Constitution to organize, undertake, and supervise all elections in Nigeria. It is the referee of Nigerian democracy.
Key Functions:
- •Registering voters and maintaining the national voter register
- •Registering political parties
- •Conducting federal, state, and local government elections
- •Delimiting constituencies and wards
- •Announcing election results
Structure: INEC is headed by a Chairman appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. It has 12 National Commissioners and 37 Resident Electoral Commissioners (one per state plus FCT).
Independence: While appointed by the President, INEC is constitutionally independent. It cannot be directed by any authority in how it conducts elections. This independence is the foundation of credible elections.
For 2027, INEC is deploying the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to ensure transparency. Every Nigerian has the right to verify results in real time.