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Former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC), Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain impartial and guarantee equal treatment for all political parties ahead of the Osun State governorship election and the 2027 general elections.
Abdulsalami made the appeal on Friday while receiving the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), and members of the commission\'s management team during a courtesy visit to his residence in Minna, Niger State. The delegation also visited former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), as part of its consultation with elder statesmen.
Expressing confidence in the electoral commission\'s leadership, Abdulsalami stressed that the credibility of Nigeria\'s democracy depends on free, fair and transparent elections conducted on a level playing field.
He described the office of the INEC Chairman as one of the most demanding in the country\'s democratic system, noting that electoral officials often face accusations of bias from politicians dissatisfied with election outcomes.
The former Head of State advised the commission to remain focused, ignore undue political pressure and faithfully uphold its constitutional responsibilities.
According to him, INEC must be fair to every political party without favour or prejudice, insisting that the commission belongs to all Nigerians and not to any political interest.
Abdulsalami also announced that the National Peace Committee would hold a strategic meeting in Abuja on July 29 ahead of the signing of the Peace Accord for the Osun governorship election scheduled for July 30 in Osogbo. He described the Osun poll as a critical rehearsal for the 2027 general elections and reaffirmed the committee\'s commitment to peaceful and credible electoral processes.
Earlier, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan assured Nigerians that every valid vote would count in the Osun governorship election and the 2027 general elections.
He said the visit was to honour Abdulsalami and Babangida for their contributions to national unity, democratic development and peacebuilding, while also seeking their support and prayers for successful elections.
Amupitan commended Abdulsalami\'s leadership of the National Peace Committee, noting that the Peace Accord initiative has helped reduce political violence by encouraging political actors to commit to peaceful campaigns and conduct.
The INEC Chairman confirmed that the Osun governorship election will hold on August 15, while the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, with governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections fixed for February 6, 2027.
He acknowledged that the commission continues to face operational challenges, particularly frequent pre-election court orders that often compel it to reprint ballot papers after production has been completed.
Despite the setbacks, Amupitan assured Nigerians that INEC remains committed to conducting inclusive, technology-driven and credible elections.
He also called on eligible Nigerians to take advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, reminding prospective voters that the third phase of the registration closes on Sunday, July 26.
