Amupitan said the commission was upgrading its electoral technology, including voter accreditation equipment and electronic result-management systems, to improve efficiency, transparency and accountability.
He explained that the BVAS devices were being strengthened to support faster voter verification, longer battery life and more reliable synchronisation of data when operating offline and online. The commission is also working with its electronic verification platform, eEC8A, and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) as part of efforts to improve result management.
However, the INEC chairman stressed that technology alone could not guarantee credible elections, noting that electoral integrity also depends on officials following the law and established procedures.
On election security, Amupitan said INEC was strengthening cooperation with the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services, the Armed Forces and other relevant agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
He said the commission was moving towards an intelligence-led approach designed to identify and address security threats before election day. INEC also plans to convene a national election security conference in Abuja to finalise arrangements for areas considered vulnerable to electoral violence.
Amupitan further disclosed that security agencies had uncovered an alleged plot by criminal suspects to target temporary election workers and members of the National Youth Service Corps. He warned that threats against electoral personnel would be treated seriously and that those responsible would face legal consequences.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has continued monitoring contacts linked to Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola case, even after the patient was evacuated to Switzerland with her husband on October 26.
In its October 26 situation report, the NCDC said 54 contacts had been identified and were being followed up. Three had developed symptoms, but all three tested negative for Ebola. Health authorities said contact tracing and surveillance were continuing to identify possible secondary contacts and monitor for further cases.
NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, also dismissed claims that the Ebola situation would lead to the postponement of the 2027 general elections. He said there was no current basis for postponement, while emphasising that public health authorities would continue monitoring the situation.
Idris cautioned against describing Nigeria as completely free of Ebola simply because the confirmed patient had been evacuated. Although there was no other confirmed case in Nigeria at the time of the update, he said continued surveillance and contact monitoring remained necessary.
The patient’s evacuation followed clinical improvement. Health authorities said she was stable and conscious when she left Nigeria, but stressed that improvement did not automatically mean she was no longer infectious.
The NCDC also confirmed weekly support of ₦100,000 for people placed under quarantine to help ease the financial burden of movement restrictions. The agency urged journalists to verify information, respect patients’ and contacts’ privacy, and avoid stigmatising people involved in the response.
It reiterated that Ebola spreads through direct contact with the body fluids of an infected person who is sick, rather than through the air. Anyone experiencing fever alongside a relevant travel or contact history was advised to call the designated response hotline, 6232, before visiting a healthcare facility.
As preparations for the 2027 elections continue, INEC’s technology and security measures are advancing alongside public health surveillance. Both efforts will depend on effective coordination, reliable implementation and accurate communication with the public.
Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia
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