2027 elections: The good tidings from INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) took its oft-promises for a successful 2027 general elections a notch higher, disclosing that it has completed nine of the 14 activities contained in the timetable for the exercise, with preparations for the polls intensifying.

This is by no means a mean feat with the propensity to inspire public confidence in the capability, readiness and political will of the nation’s chief electoral umpire to deliver on its constitutional mandate.

INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, made the disclosure at a youth engagement programme in Abuja last Wednesday. The event, titled “The Electorate: A Youth Dialogue with INEC,” is in collaboration with Yiaga Africa, Enough is Enough Nigeria and the Nigerian Youth Futures Fund (NYFF) under the theme, “Let’s Talk About the 2027 Elections.”

Amupitan, who was represented by the National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, said the commission had made substantial progress in implementing its electoral timetable, which includes the conduct of political party primaries, publication of the voters’ register and release of the final list of candidates for the elections.

He described the voters’ register as a key component of the electoral process, noting that it would be used to determine eligible voters for accreditation on election day. The national commissioner said the publication of candidates nominated by political parties was also among the activities already completed.

Amupitan, however, acknowledged that the initial publication generated complaints from some political parties over alleged omissions and discrepancies in the names released by the commission. According to him, INEC had invited affected parties to submit petitions and was working to resolve the complaints before finalising the candidates’ list.

The INEC chairman said the commission had also increased the frequency of its meetings as the elections drew closer to review its level of preparedness and take decisions required for the smooth conduct of the polls.

On its structure, he said the commission is headed by a chairman and 12 national commissioners who are responsible for policy decisions. The commission also has resident electoral commissioners deployed across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. National commissioners are nominated by the president, considered by the Council of State and subsequently confirmed by the Senate.

At the event, Yiaga Africa’s Programme Manager for Governance, Yetunde Bakari, called for deliberate measures to ensure that young Nigerians can participate safely and meaningfully in the 2027 elections. Ms Bakari said young people should not be viewed merely as voters, but also as candidates, community mobilisers and participants in shaping Nigeria’s democratic future.

Bakari commended INEC for beginning preparations early, citing measures such as online voter registration, printable Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), planned nationwide mock accreditation exercises and efforts to strengthen the governance of electoral technology and artificial intelligence.

She, however, said INEC’s preparedness must be visible to citizens, arguing that public confidence would depend on transparency, effective communication and the credibility of the electoral process.

She urged the commission to communicate promptly with voters whenever technical or operational challenges arise, ensure transparency in the deployment of AI and make adequate arrangements for eligible voters in hard-to-reach communities.

Ms Bakari also urged young Nigerians to rely on credible sources of information, reject electoral violence and misinformation, and continue to hold elected officials accountable after the elections.

Yiaga Africa voting intention survey showed that 84 per cent of respondents were likely or very likely to vote in the 2027 elections. However, 61 per cent of those surveyed feared that electoral violence could prevent them from voting.

Only 40 per cent of young respondents said they were very likely to participate in the elections, which is a concern that should be addressed by electoral stakeholders. “Encouraging young people to vote will not be enough if we do not create conditions that make their participation safe, accessible and worthwhile,” Bakare said.

It is noteworthy that a week earlier, the chief electoral umpire had for the umpteenth time assured Nigerians that the commission is ready to conduct free, fair, and credible elections in 2027. Apparently to lend credence to this assertion, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who had made similar commitments, ordered the service chiefs to dismantle terrorist and bandit camps, rescue abducted Nigerians, and strengthen security ahead of the January and February polls. Heads of security agencies were also ordered to ensure a safe and secure environment for Nigerians to participate freely in next year’s elections.

Blueprint.ng commends INEC for its unwavering commitment towards the success of the elections billed to commence with the presidential and National Assembly polls on January 16, 2027. We, however, hasten to caution the commission to avoid any controversy capable of distracting from its core objective and casting doubts over the authenticity of the electoral process, particularly the voter register.

INEC would have prevented the hoopla that followed its alleged violation of the Electoral Act 2026 as regards the publication of the voter register if it had observed due diligence, proactiveness and undertaken a massive public awareness campaign in the media on the issue.

For the benefit of hindsight, Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 requires INEC to make copies of the voters’ register available for public scrutiny on its website as well as at every registration area for seven days before 90 days to the general elections. But a controversy had ensued over INEC’s alleged breach of this statutory provision, a claim the commission refuted.

Notwithstanding the slide, this newspaper is convinced that given the high level of preparedness of INEC and President Tinubu’s marching order to security chiefs, coupled with other positive indicators, the electoral commission is set to deliver free, fair, credible and acceptable 2027 general elections. There is a proviso here: the political parties, candidates, security agencies, the media, civil society, and Nigerians across board must play their respective roles to enable INEC succeed in delivering on its sacred mandate.