Nigerians Expect Too Much? INEC Boss Speaks on Why Elections Can’t Be Perfect

In a country where every election comes with intense expectations, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has delivered a message many Nigerians may not like to hear no election, anywhere in the world, is completely perfect.

Speaking openly on the realities of conducting elections, Amupitan said Nigerians often expect too much from the process, stressing that perfection is simply not achievable. According to him, what truly matters is not a flawless system, but one that is credible and functional.

He explained that the success of any election should be measured by key factors like how well logistics are handled, whether voting starts on time, how peaceful the process is, and how results are managed. For instance, since elections are officially scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m., he noted that meeting that timeline is one of the first signs that things are on track.

“A successful election is based on logistics,” he said, while admitting that INEC experienced “some logistic issues and purely human issues” during the process. He added that steps are already being taken to address these challenges and improve future elections.

Despite acknowledging Nigerians’ strong desire for credible polls, Amupitan maintained that expecting a 100 percent perfect election is unrealistic.

“We will try as much as possible to give this country the best election. However, we cannot achieve a 100 percent perfect election,” he stated.

He also addressed ongoing concerns about the electronic transmission of results, clarifying that INEC has the technical capacity to transmit results across the country. However, he suggested that many Nigerians misunderstand what real-time transmission actually means, hinting that expectations may not always align with operational realities.

His comments have now sparked fresh debate across the country with many wondering whether Nigerians should adjust their expectations, or if the electoral system itself needs to do more to earn public trust.