INEC, NOA, CSOs, Traditional Rulers Unite to Curb Voter Apathy, Disinformation Ahead of 2027

By Sunday Ehigiator

As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has significantly stepped up efforts to tackle the twin challenges of voter apathy and disinformation, forging strategic partnerships with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), civil society organisations (CSOs), and traditional rulers to mobilise citizens across the country. This was disclosed by the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, in response to enquiries from THISDAY. According to Oketola, the commission is taking a comprehensive approach to improve voter participation, strengthen election technology, and address security concerns that have historically discouraged Nigerians from exercising their franchise. With the voter register now standing at over 103 million registered citizens, INEC has already embarked on Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection nationwide and has moved to address the bottlenecks that previously hindered the process. The commission is also working to ensure that no registered voter is left behind due to administrative hurdles, long queues, or difficulties in accessing polling units. The 2027 election is expected to be one of the most technologically driven in Nigeria’s history, and INEC has signalled its determination to build on lessons learned from previous electoral cycles. By prioritising voter education and grassroots engagement, the commission hopes to reverse the worrying trend of declining voter turnout that has characterised recent elections, especially among younger Nigerians who constitute a significant portion of the electorate but often stay away from polling stations on election day.

At the heart of INEC’s strategy for the 2027 elections is the upgrading of core election technology, particularly the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. These platforms are being enhanced to guarantee fast, transparent accreditation and seamless result verification, according to Oketola. The BVAS, which was introduced to address the shortcomings of earlier card readers, has become a central component of Nigeria’s electoral process, enabling voters to be accredited through biometric verification of fingerprints and facial recognition. However, the commission has acknowledged that technological failures, network challenges, and logistical issues affected the smooth operation of these systems in past elections. In response, INEC is investing in upgrades that will improve the speed and reliability of accreditation while ensuring that results are transmitted in real time to the IReV portal for public scrutiny. The IReV portal was designed to enhance transparency by allowing citizens to view polling unit results as they are uploaded by presiding officers. By making these upgrades a priority, INEC is seeking to restore public confidence in the integrity of the electoral process and reduce the perception that votes may not count. Oketola stressed that the commission’s focus is not only on the technology itself but also on the broader electoral ecosystem, including the training of ad hoc staff, the maintenance of equipment, and the creation of contingency plans to address potential failures. The goal, he said, is to ensure that the 2027 general election is seamless, credible, and inclusive, with technology serving as an enabler of democratic participation rather than a barrier to it.

Recognising that accessibility is essential to civic participation, INEC has also taken deliberate steps to make voting easier for vulnerable and marginalised groups, including persons with disabilities, elderly citizens, and nursing mothers. According to Oketola, the commission is using voter register data to deploy targeted assistive tools and enforce priority voting for over 232,000 registered Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), as well as elderly citizens and nursing mothers. This is a significant development, as previous elections have been criticised for failing to adequately accommodate the needs of PWDs, who often face physical, attitudinal, and information barriers at polling units. Many polling stations across Nigeria are not wheelchair-accessible, and electoral materials are frequently not available in formats that are usable by visually or hearing-impaired voters. In response, INEC has pledged to ensure that polling units are located in accessible areas, that necessary assistive devices such as magnifiers, braille ballots, and sign language interpreters are provided, and that electoral officials are trained to assist voters with special needs. The introduction of priority voting is intended to reduce the long waiting times that disproportionately affect vulnerable voters, ensuring that they are not compelled to stand in queues for hours or risk being turned away. Oketola emphasised that INEC’s commitment to inclusivity is not merely a matter of policy but a fundamental requirement for a credible democracy. By leveraging data from the voter register, the commission can identify where PWDs are concentrated and allocate resources accordingly, ensuring that no community is overlooked. These measures, he said, reflect INEC’s determination to make the electoral process truly accessible to all Nigerian citizens, regardless of physical condition, age, or gender.

Simultaneously, INEC is prioritising voter education and expanding grassroots outreach in partnership with civil society organisations and community leaders, while running active fact-checking operations to counter the online disinformation that drives voter apathy. Oketola explained that the commission has partnered with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to educate and mobilise citizens across the country to overcome civic indifference. This partnership is particularly important in a country where misinformation and fake news have become increasingly sophisticated, often targeting electoral processes and institutions with the aim of undermining public trust. Social media platforms, messaging apps, and other digital channels have been used to spread false claims about election rigging, violence, and the credibility of electoral officials, discouraging many citizens from participating in elections. To counter this, INEC is working with CSOs and community-based organisations to deliver accurate and timely information about voter registration, PVC collection, election dates, and voting procedures. These organisations are often better positioned to reach local communities, especially in rural areas where traditional media and internet access are limited. Fact-checking operations are also being conducted to identify and debunk false narratives before they gain traction, with INEC collaborating with media professionals and fact-checking platforms to monitor online content. The commission is also engaging with religious leaders, youth groups, women’s associations, and other stakeholders to promote a culture of peaceful and active citizenship. By strengthening these partnerships, INEC hopes to create a more informed electorate that is resistant to manipulation and motivated to participate in the democratic process. Oketola noted that voter apathy is not only a problem of logistics or technology but also a problem of perception, and that rebuilding trust is essential to increasing turnout.

Beyond institutional partnerships, INEC has taken its campaign against voter apathy directly to the grassroots by engaging traditional rulers in the South-west, South-east, and North-west during its ongoing readiness assessment tours. During these engagements, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, appealed directly to the traditional rulers, encouraging them to mobilise their people to come out and vote on election day while steadfastly eschewing violence. Traditional rulers occupy a unique and influential position in Nigerian society, serving as custodians of culture, arbiters of local disputes, and trusted voices in their communities. Their involvement in electoral mobilisation is therefore seen as a critical tool for reaching voters who may be distrustful of official institutions or disconnected from conventional political campaigns. By engaging with traditional leaders, INEC is not only seeking to boost voter turnout but also to promote peaceful conduct during elections, as traditional rulers can play a key role in discouraging electoral violence and resolving conflicts at the community level. The readiness assessment tours have allowed the commission to evaluate the state of electoral preparations in different parts of the country, identify challenges, and engage with local stakeholders in a meaningful way. Oketola said that the response from traditional rulers has been positive, with many expressing their commitment to encouraging their subjects to participate in elections and to ensure that their communities remain peaceful before, during, and after the polls. This grassroots approach is complemented by INEC’s broader voter education campaigns, which are designed to address the specific concerns and realities of different regions and demographic groups. By combining top-down institutional reforms with bottom-up community engagement, INEC is attempting to create a more holistic and sustainable solution to the problem of voter apathy.

Finally, INEC is working closely with security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to address the safety concerns that could discourage voters from participating in the 2027 elections. Oketola noted that through precision-led security deployments, the commission was able to ensure the peaceful conduct of the Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun off-cycle governorship elections, the FCT Area Council Polls, and 16 bye-elections across the country under the leadership of Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN. These elections, which were held in various states and constituencies, provided valuable lessons for INEC and its security partners, demonstrating that effective planning and coordination can significantly reduce the risk of violence and electoral malpractice. The commission is now building on these successes by using risk mapping to identify and address potential threats early, allowing security agencies to deploy resources more efficiently and proactively. Risk mapping involves the analysis of historical data, political dynamics, and local vulnerabilities to predict where violence or disruptions are most likely to occur. By identifying these high-risk areas in advance, INEC and security agencies can implement targeted measures to protect voters, electoral officials, and electoral materials. Oketola said the commission aims to ensure that all 176,846 polling units nationwide serve as safe, peaceful, and accessible environments for every Nigerian voter. This is an ambitious goal, given the size and diversity of Nigeria, but it reflects INEC’s commitment to conducting elections that are not only free and fair but also secure and inclusive. As the 2027 elections approach, the commission’s multi-faceted approach—combining technology, accessibility, voter education, traditional leadership, and security—represents a comprehensive effort to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system and to encourage greater participation in the democratic process.