By Peter Okoye
The Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the days when ballot
box snatching and election result manipulation could decide the outcome of
elections are coming to an end, as it unveiled stronger legal and technological
safeguards ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman Joash Ojo Amupitan made the assurance on
Wednesday in Abuja during a meeting with the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu. The meeting focused on
expanding voter education and building public confidence before Nigerians
return to the polls.
Amupitan
said the country's electoral process has changed significantly in recent years,
with technology making it increasingly difficult to tamper with election
results. He pointed to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS)
and the INEC
Result Viewing Portal (IReV) as key innovations that have
strengthened transparency by improving voter verification and enabling faster
electronic transmission of results.
He
disclosed that preparations for the 2027 elections are already underway, with
the presidential election scheduled for January 16 and governorship elections
set for February 6, 2027.
While
expressing confidence in the new systems, the INEC chairman stressed that
technology alone cannot guarantee credible elections. He said Nigerians must
understand the value of their votes and trust that the safeguards now in place
will protect the electoral process.
Amupitan
noted that recent elections in the Federal Capital Territory and Ekiti State
recorded major operational improvements, including the early opening of most
polling units, successful biometric accreditation and quicker uploading of
results. However, he admitted that low voter turnout, particularly in urban
areas, remains a serious concern.
According
to him, many eligible voters still struggle to understand changes to polling
units, voter transfers and other electoral procedures. He warned that this gap
in public awareness could weaken democracy if not urgently addressed.
He
called for a nationwide grassroots voter education campaign, saying INEC and
the National Orientation Agency must work together to tackle misinformation,
fake news and vote-buying while encouraging greater civic participation.
Issa-Onilu also urged stronger collaboration between both
organisations, describing the low number of voters on election day as a
national concern. He said increasing voter participation through continuous
public education has become essential to strengthening Nigeria's democracy
ahead of the 2027 polls.
Post a Comment