Independent National Electoral Commission
INEC
About
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the federal electoral management body responsible for organising and supervising elections in Nigeria. Its constitutional responsibilities include elections for the offices of President, vice-president, state governors and deputy governors, as well as elections to the National Assembly and state houses of assembly. INEC also registers and monitors political parties and maintains the national register of voters. The present commission was established in 1998 shortly before Nigeria's transition from military to civilian rule. INEC is currently chaired by Joash Amupitan, who was sworn into office on 23 October 2025.
History
The administration of democratic elections in Nigeria dates back to the Electoral Commission of Nigeria (ECN), inaugurated in 1958 to conduct the 1959 federal elections. The Federal Electoral Commission, established in 1960, was dissolved after the military coup of 1966. A new Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) was constituted in 1978 and organised the 1979 elections. In December 1995, the military government under Sani Abacha established the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON), but its process was aborted by Abacha's death in June 1998. In 1998, General Abdulsalami Abubakar's administration dissolved NECON and established the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with Justice Ephraim Akpata as its first chairman. INEC organised the transitional elections that ushered in the Nigerian Fourth Republic on 29 May 1999. Later chairmen included Abel Guobadia, Maurice Iwu, Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, Mahmood Yakubu and May Agbamuche-Mbu, before Joash Amupitan was sworn in on 23 October 2025.
Source: Wikipedia: Independent National Electoral Commission (Nigeria)
Key Facts
Established
1998
Headquarters
Abuja
Chairman
Joash Ojo Amupitan
Jurisdiction
Federal Government of Nigeria
Abbreviation
INEC
Website
inecnigeria.org