By staff Reporter Rukevwe Odeh

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the legislative bye-elections conducted across Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Delta states will provide valuable operational experience ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, made the disclosure on Saturday while monitoring the elections from the Commission’s National Situation Room at its headquarters in Abuja.

The polls covered five legislative constituencies across the four states. They included the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe State, Dawakin Kudu State Constituency in Kano, Sakwa and Disina State Constituencies in Bauchi, and Udu State Constituency in Delta.

Amupitan said the Commission would use the experience gathered from the bye-elections to examine its logistics, technological systems and administrative preparedness ahead of the nationwide polls.

According to him, off-cycle elections should not be treated as routine exercises because they provide an opportunity for INEC to identify weaknesses and improve its electoral processes before the larger 2027 contest.

He explained that lessons from the four-state exercise would contribute to the Commission’s broader preparations, particularly in the areas of logistics management, technology deployment and the readiness of election personnel.

The INEC chairman also said the Commission’s National Situation Room enabled officials to monitor developments from the various locations and respond to operational issues as they emerged.

He added that challenges identified before the elections were addressed promptly, stressing that continuous monitoring and early intervention remained important to the Commission’s efforts to improve election administration.

Amupitan further assured Nigerians that INEC would continue reviewing its procedures and strengthening its systems to promote greater efficiency and public confidence in future elections.

The September 19 bye-elections therefore served not only to fill vacant legislative seats but also as part of INEC’s ongoing preparations for the 2027 general elections.