ICPC Urges INEC Officials to Uphold Electoral Integrity

ICPC trains INEC officials on ethics, accountability and corruption prevention to strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s 2027 elections.

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has called on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials to uphold transparency, accountability and professionalism as preparations for the 2027 General Elections gather pace.

The ICPC electoral integrity message was delivered during the opening of a two-day Anti-Corruption and Sensitisation Workshop for INEC staff at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. Speaking through the Director of Legal Services, Henry Emore, ICPC Chairman Musa Adamu Aliyu said elections are critical to Nigeria’s democracy and require the highest standards of integrity from those responsible for conducting them.

Aliyu stressed that electoral officers play a vital role in protecting the credibility of the electoral process. He warned that corruption can undermine public trust, trigger costly supplementary elections, increase litigation and place additional pressure on law enforcement agencies.

The ICPC electoral integrity workshop forms part of the commission’s preventive anti-corruption efforts aimed at strengthening accountability across public institutions. According to Aliyu, the collaboration between ICPC and INEC is designed to equip electoral officials with the knowledge and ethical standards needed to deliver free, fair and credible elections in 2027 and beyond.

He also commended INEC Chairman Joash Ojo Amupitan for approving the sensitisation programme despite the commission’s demanding electoral timetable, describing the decision as a demonstration of INEC’s commitment to institutional integrity.

Representing the INEC chairman, May Agbamuche-Mbu, Resident Electoral Commissioner for the South-South Region, described the workshop as timely. She said the programme would strengthen the capacity of election officials, encourage the exchange of best practices and support ethical conduct throughout the electoral process.

The opening day featured presentations by Demola Bakare and Susan Ogabaidu, who examined conflicts of interest within Nigeria’s electoral system. They discussed how personal bias, financial inducements and political affiliations can threaten democratic processes.

The workshop concludes with sessions led by Olusegun Adigun and Kingsley Chidi Obi, focusing on corruption prevention and value re-orientation as essential tools for strengthening ICPC electoral integrity efforts within the electoral workforce.

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