The Canadian High Commission has pledged continued support for Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The Chargé d’Affaires of Canada to Nigeria, Mr. David Sproule, made the commitment when he led a delegation from the Canadian High Commission on a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.
Sproule said Canada remained committed to supporting efforts to strengthen democratic processes and ensure that elections are free, fair and credible.
“Canada remains committed to supporting countries seeking to strengthen democratic processes and ensure that elections are free, fair and enjoy the confidence and legitimacy of their citizens,” Sproule said.
He said Canada was particularly interested in INEC’s preparations for the 2027 General Election and would continue to support areas including electoral participation, women’s inclusion, public awareness, technical assistance and election observation.
“We are interested in supporting the efforts of INEC as it prepares for the 2027 General Election, particularly in areas that can strengthen participation and inclusion,” he said.
Sproule added that Canada would continue to provide relevant information and expertise to support Nigeria’s electoral processes.
“We will continue to share information and expertise that can contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system,” he said.
He noted that Nigeria and Canada shared a common interest in promoting credible and legitimate elections.
“Our two countries share the objective of ensuring credible and legitimate elections, and we are committed to supporting that objective,” Sproule said.
Receiving the delegation, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, appreciated Canada’s sustained support for electoral governance, civic education, institutional strengthening and gender inclusion in Nigeria.
Amupitan said INEC remained committed to delivering free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive elections that reflect the sovereign will of Nigerians.
“Our mandate remains to deliver free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive elections that accurately reflect the sovereign will of the Nigerian people,” Amupitan said.
The Chairman said the Commission had continued to use recent off-cycle elections to test and improve its electoral processes, citing the Anambra, FCT Area Council, Ekiti and Osun elections.
Speaking on the August 15 Osun Governorship Election, Amupitan said 3,556 of the 3,763 polling units, representing 94.5 per cent, opened for accreditation and voting by 8:30 a.m.
He also highlighted the performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), result uploads on the IReV portal and crisis management during the election.
“We view the success in Osun not as a final destination, but as the gold standard that will guide our preparations for 2027,” he said.
Amupitan said the Commission would focus on improving electoral technology, expanding inclusion, strengthening institutional capacity and technical support, tackling misinformation and safeguarding electoral integrity.
“We must consolidate the gains made in technology while deepening electoral inclusion and strengthening our institutional capacity ahead of 2027,” he said.
He also disclosed that INEC would conduct a nationwide mock accreditation exercise in November 2026 to test BVAS and other electoral equipment ahead of the general election.
“The mock accreditation will subject the BVAS and other electoral equipment to rigorous field testing to assess our readiness and address potential operational challenges ahead of the General Election,” Amupitan said.