The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Josiah Amupitan, has assured political parties and Nigerians that the commission will remain neutral in the 2027 elections.

Amupitan gave the assurance on Tuesday at the National Peace Accord ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

“INEC has no interest in who wins or loses any election. The commission does not have a candidate, nor does it favour any political platform,” Amupitan said.

The INEC chairman also urged political parties and candidates to focus on issues during the 2027 campaign rather than turning the election into a contest of violence and personal attacks.

“Let the 2027 election campaign be a marketplace of ideas, not a theatre of war,” he said.

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Amupitan said Nigerians were more interested in practical solutions to their challenges and urged political actors to present clear and measurable programmes.

“Nigerians do not want insults; they want solutions. They deserve to hear clear, concrete, and measurable manifestos,” he said.

He also assured Nigerians that the commission was building on previous preparations to deliver a credible election in 2027.

Amupitan said INEC’s preparations were progressing, adding that the commission was expanding its logistics to handle the large number of personnel required for the nationwide exercise.

“I am pleased to report that our preparations for the 2027 elections are progressing with absolute precision. We are scaling our operational logistics to manage a massive nationwide ad hoc workforce of 1.4 million personnel across over 176,000 polling units,” he said.

Terrorists on Monday attacked Dyan community in Rim village, and two persons were shot dead. The attack occurred in Riyom council area of Plateau.

A statement on Tuesday by Rwang Tengwong, the spokesperson for Berom Youth Moulders-Association, said the residents were shot at about 7:30 p.m. while at their home.

“The victims, Toma Davou, 27, and Jeremiah Benjamin, 28, were fatally shot at about 7:30 p.m. on Monday while seated in front of their homes,” he said.

He stated that the victims were married and fathers of two children each, leaving behind young widows and four children whose lives have been abruptly thrown into uncertainty.

Terrorists killed 23 people, including women and children, in Bin-Per community in Kombun area of Mangu.

The group said it was disturbed by reports that large numbers of herders came to graze around the Dyan community earlier that day, before the attack occurred later the same day.

“This recurring pattern reinforces concerns that grazing activities are being used as a cover to scout vulnerable communities and facilitate attacks,” he noted.

The group further commended the State Security Service personnel stationed between Dyan and Gako communities for their prompt response, which helped avert further casualties.

He added, “Their intervention demonstrates the importance of maintaining adequate and responsive security personnel within vulnerable communities.

Alfred Alabo, the spokesperson for the police in Plateau, could not be immediately reached for comments.

Two persons were set ablaze by the terrorists during an attack on four communities within the Berom area of the state.