The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians that the technological measures introduced into the country’s electoral process are strong enough to safeguard votes in the 2027 general elections, insisting that ballot box snatching and manual alteration of election results have become outdated.
The commission gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, to the INEC headquarters. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between both agencies to improve voter education ahead of the next general election.
Speaking during the meeting, the INEC chairman said preparations for the 2027 elections must begin early, stressing that voter education is critical to improving participation and protecting the credibility of the electoral process. He noted that the presidential election is scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship elections will take place on February 6, 2027.
According to him, misinformation and voter apathy remain major challenges that could undermine democratic participation if they are not addressed well before the elections.
The INEC chairman said the commission would intensify public awareness campaigns to help Nigerians understand the importance of voting and the role technology now plays in protecting election outcomes. He explained that citizens, particularly those in rural communities, urban centres and local markets, must be educated in languages they understand so they can have confidence that their votes will count.
He maintained that innovations such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) have significantly improved election transparency and reduced opportunities for electoral fraud.
Reviewing recent elections, the commission highlighted the successful conduct of the February 21 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections and the June 20 off-cycle governorship election in Ekiti State. INEC said more than 90 per cent of polling units opened early during the exercises, while voter accreditation was carried out using BVAS and election results were uploaded promptly to the IReV platform.
Despite these operational gains, the commission expressed concern over low voter turnout and confusion experienced by many urban voters regarding polling unit realignments and voter registration transfers.
INEC said the situation showed that although election technology continues to improve, many Nigerians are yet to fully understand how the system works. It warned that relying solely on technological improvements without sustained civic education could weaken public confidence in elections.
The commission added that investments in election technology, logistics and administrative reforms would only achieve their intended goals if citizens remain informed, engaged and willing to participate in the democratic process.
Describing the National Orientation Agency as a key partner in promoting civic awareness, INEC said both organisations have a shared constitutional responsibility to deepen democratic values across the country.
It called for a nationwide grassroots voter education campaign that would go beyond announcing election dates to explaining voting procedures, electoral reforms and citizens’ responsibilities.
INEC also urged closer collaboration with the NOA to combat vote-buying, fake news and election-related misinformation. The commission recommended that NOA officials across the country receive adequate training on INEC’s electoral processes so they can effectively educate communities and serve as trusted sources of information ahead of the 2027 general elections.
