By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, has joined election management leaders from across the world at the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management, held in New Delhi from January 21 to 23, 2026.
The three-day high-level conference was organised by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), in collaboration with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).
Precise Post recalls that the event coincided with the assumption of office of India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Mr. Gyanesh Kumar, as Chair of the Council of Member States of International IDEA for 2026.
The statement released on the official X handle of INEC @inecnigeria on Wednesday said the conference opened with an inaugural session at the Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, featuring welcome remarks by the Director-General of IIIDEM and the screening of a documentary titled India Decides, which showcased the evolution of India’s electoral process and the extensive measures adopted by the ECI to deliver peaceful, credible and inclusive elections.
Addressing participants, the Secretary-General of International IDEA, Dr. Kevin Casa-Zamora, explained that the conference was convened to mark India’s chairship of the IDEA Council.
He highlighted the conference theme, “Democracy for an Inclusive, Peaceful, Resilient and Sustainable World,” noting that it was aimed at forging a shared global vision on the challenges confronting Election Management Bodies (EMBs) worldwide.
He added that the initiative reflects India’s ancient philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, meaning “the world is one family.”
Discussions throughout the conference were structured around two major thematic pillars: Reimagining Democracy for the Future and Independent and Professional Election Management Bodies as Foundations for Sustainable Democracy.
Over the three days, participants engaged in high-level plenary sessions, closed-door leadership dialogues and thematic discussions covering the entire electoral cycle. Key areas examined included legal and regulatory frameworks, voter registration, political participation, campaign regulation, polling and collation processes, and the deployment of election technology. Emerging challenges such as artificial intelligence, misinformation, electoral risk management, sustainability and democratic inclusion also featured prominently.
The conference attracted nearly 500 national and international delegates, including chairpersons and senior officials of EMBs, electoral practitioners, academics and experts from renowned institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and National Law Universities (NLUs), alongside other stakeholders in democracy and governance.
Professor Amupitan was accompanied by the Acting Director-General of The Electoral Institute (TEI), INEC, Professor Ibrahim Sani. Speaking during a plenary session on Laws and Rules Governing Electoral Democracies, the INEC Chairman expressed appreciation for the opportunity to exchange ideas with seasoned election administrators from across the globe.
In his intervention, Professor Amupitan examined both the potential and limitations of legal regulation in democratic governance, stressing the importance of balanced, enforceable and context-sensitive legal frameworks that enhance electoral integrity while protecting democratic freedoms.
The conference, he noted, provided a vital platform for peer learning, experience-sharing and international cooperation, reinforcing INEC’s commitment to continuous improvement through the adoption of global best practices in election management.
