INEC, KAS Seek Stronger Collaboration on Electoral Reforms, Voter Education

INEC, KAS Seek Stronger Collaboration on Electoral Reforms, Voter Education

By Raphael Ekpang

Abuja (Core Reporters) The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed readiness to deepen its longstanding partnership with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), particularly in the areas of voter education, electoral technology, institutional capacity and peaceful democratic participation ahead of the forthcoming 2027 general election.

The INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan stated this while receiving the newly appointed Country Representative of KAS in Nigeria, Moritz Sprenker, during his courtesy visit to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Friday, August 21, 2026.

The Chairman formally welcomed Sprenker to Nigeria and congratulated him on his appointment, describing the visit as timely and strategic as the Commission intensifies preparations for upcoming elections.

He commended KAS for its sustained contributions to democratic development in Nigeria, particularly its support for constitutionalism, the rule of law, good governance, peace and sustainable development.

According to him, the complexity of modern elections makes broad-based partnerships involving government institutions, civil society, academia, the private sector and development partners increasingly important.

He reaffirmed that INEC’s primary mandate remains the conduct of free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive elections that reflect the will of the Nigerian people.

Prof. Amupitan highlighted several measures already undertaken by the Commission as part of its preparations for the forthcoming electoral cycle, including the testing and adaptation of administrative and technical processes, deployment and testing of biometric technology, security and election-governance workshops, engagements with political parties and other stakeholders, as well as capacity-building programmes for election officials.

He identified Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) as an important area requiring sustained attention, stressing the need to ensure that all eligible Nigerians are captured on the electoral register without creating unnecessary delays in the electoral process.

The Chairman also referenced the National Peace Accord and the commencement of political campaigns as significant milestones in the current electoral calendar, noting the importance of sustained stakeholder engagement in ensuring peaceful and credible elections.

He said INEC would welcome stronger collaboration with KAS in areas including civic and voter education, strengthening democratic culture, improving and diversifying electoral technology, increasing participation among youths, women and grassroots communities, strengthening institutional capacity and electoral governance, and supporting research and technical development through the Electoral Institute of Nigeria.

He further called for collaboration towards promoting peaceful elections, electoral civility and responsible political participation.

Earlier, Moritz Sprenker, who is the new Country Representative of KAS in Nigeria, said the courtesy visit was his first official engagement with INEC since assuming office.

Sprenker explained that KAS is affiliated with Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and operates in more than 100 countries, with its work anchored on the values of freedom, justice and solidarity.

He said the Foundation’s areas of focus include good governance, the rule of law, human rights and the social market economy.

According to him, KAS has operated in Nigeria for more than 25 years and has built partnerships with government institutions at various levels, INEC, universities, think tanks, political leaders, young people, civil society organisations, the media and inter-religious organisations.

He noted that KAS and INEC have maintained a longstanding relationship, with their most recent major engagement being a three-day capacity-building workshop held in Lagos in March, which focused on procurement.

Sprenker expressed interest in further strengthening KAS’s partnership with INEC, the National Assembly and other democratic institutions in Nigeria.

He said KAS remains committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen democratic institutions and contribute to sustainable democratic development in the country.

Both INEC and KAS expressed optimism that the longstanding partnership between them would be further expanded to address emerging challenges in Nigeria’s electoral process and deepen citizens’ participation in democracy.