The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash O. Amupitan, has warned officials of the Commission against violations of procurement laws, saying ignorance will no longer be accepted as preparations gather pace for the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan gave the warning on Thursday at the end of a three-day procurement training held in Lagos, organised in collaboration with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS).
“Ignorance of the law will no longer be tolerated in our procurement processes,” he said.
He said strict compliance with the Procurement Act is critical to safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process, especially as the Commission moves into a major phase of election preparations.
According to him, the training, attended by National Commissioners, Directors and senior staff, was aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability and coordination in procurement decisions.
Amupitan described the workshop as “timely,” noting that it had improved the collective understanding of members of the Commission’s Tender Board.
He also disclosed that INEC’s budget has been approved by the National Assembly, paving the way for procurement activities ahead of the polls.
Experts at the training included Steve Ogidan, Chief Executive Officer of Successory Nigeria Ltd., and Adetunji O. Ogunyemi of Obafemi Awolowo University, who delivered sessions on procurement compliance, stakeholder management and legal challenges.
They highlighted common infractions in procurement processes and the implications of legal and judicial interventions.
The INEC chairman commended the facilitators and participants, expressing confidence that the training would shape conduct and improve adherence to procurement regulations.
The workshop ended with a commitment by officials to comply with the Procurement Act as part of efforts to ensure credible elections in 2027.
