INEC Chairman Leads Delegation to South Korea Election Observation Programme

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has led a Nigerian delegation to the opening ceremony of the International Election Observation Programme (IEOP) in the Republic of Korea, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system through global best practices.

The programme, organised by the South Korean National Election Commission (NEC), is focused on the Nationwide Simultaneous Local Elections currently taking place across South Korea from May 29 to June 5, 2026.

The IEOP was formally opened on Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Seoul, bringing together election management bodies, international observers and electoral experts from different countries to share experiences on election administration and democratic governance.

Prof. Amupitan was accompanied on the trip by INEC National Commissioner, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu; the Chief Technical Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Dimis Mai-Lafia; and the Director of Training, Dr. Binta Kasim Mohammed.

During the programme, the delegation participated in observation activities, including early voting processes at a polling centre in Mia-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, where they observed voting procedures and electoral operations firsthand.

INEC said the engagement provided an opportunity to study South Korea’s electoral systems, particularly in areas such as logistics, voter management, technology integration and election-day coordination.

The Commission noted that the exposure is expected to enhance Nigeria’s electoral administration as it continues to adopt reforms aimed at improving transparency, efficiency and credibility in elections.

Speaking through the delegation’s participation, INEC reiterated its commitment to strengthening democratic institutions in Nigeria through continuous learning and international collaboration.

According to the Commission, “participation in international observation programmes such as the IEOP enables election management bodies to exchange knowledge and improve electoral governance systems in line with global standards.”

The South Korean IEOP is widely regarded as a platform for peer learning among election bodies, allowing participating countries to observe real-time electoral processes and adopt innovations suitable to their domestic contexts.

INEC said its involvement in the programme aligns with its ongoing efforts to modernise Nigeria’s electoral system and deepen public confidence in the democratic process.

The Commission added that lessons drawn from the Korean electoral model would be carefully studied and adapted where necessary to improve Nigeria’s election management framework.