The Canadian High Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 General Election, with Chargé d’Affaires David Sproule pledging continued cooperation in areas including voter participation, women’s inclusion, public awareness, technical assistance and election observation.
Receiving the Canadian delegation in Abuja, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan said the Commission was using recent off-cycle elections to test electoral reforms and improve its operations. He described the August 15, 2026 Osun governorship election as a significant benchmark, noting that 3,556 of 3,763 polling units, representing 94.5 per cent, opened for accreditation and voting by 8:30 a.m.
“We view the success in Osun not as a final destination, but as the gold standard that will guide our preparations for 2027,” Amupitan said. He also highlighted BVAS performance, result uploads to the IReV portal and crisis management as areas tested during the election.
Amupitan identified five priorities for 2027: consolidating technology gains, improving electoral inclusion, strengthening institutional capacity, combating misinformation and protecting electoral integrity. He also announced plans for a nationwide mock accreditation exercise in November 2026 and disclosed that INEC had established an AI unit to explore responsible uses of artificial intelligence while addressing threats such as deepfakes and disinformation.
Canada’s Sproule said his country remained committed to helping strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions and ensure elections are free, fair and trusted by citizens. Both sides agreed to sustain cooperation ahead of the 2027 elections, while INEC reaffirmed its “absolute independence, neutrality, and unyielding commitment to democratic integrity.”
Daily Times
