The Independent National Electoral Commission has assured Nigerians that the 2027 general elections will be free, fair and credible, stressing that every valid vote will count.
The commission also maintained that the outcome of the elections would reflect the choice of the electorate, dismissing claims that politicians could manipulate results by stockpiling Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
The Head of Voter Education and Publicity for INEC in Kwara State, Dr. Adejumo Peter, stated this on Thursday during a seminar organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Ilorin.
Peter said technological improvements in the electoral process have made it impossible for anyone to use another person’s PVC to vote.
“INEC has introduced measures that make it impossible for anyone to use another person’s PVC to vote. That is why politicians have shifted their focus to vote-buying,” he said.
He added, “Many politicians are still living in the past. Stockpiling and carting away PVCs can no longer guarantee electoral victory.”
The INEC official assured residents of Kwara State that the commission would strictly comply with the Electoral Act and its operational guidelines during the 2027 elections.
“We will ensure that the elections are conducted on the basis of one person, one vote. At the end of the exercise, the outcome will reflect the will of the people,” Peter said.
He also urged political parties and their supporters to embrace peaceful, issue-based campaigns and avoid violence before, during and after the elections.
“Politicians should campaign on their manifestos and shun violence before, during and after the elections. Let us conduct the elections peacefully like a sporting contest, and all parties should accept the outcome,” he added.
Speaking on the theme, “Dissecting the Amended Electoral Act 2026: Innovations and Implications for Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections,” the Head of INEC’s Legal Unit in Kwara State, Abdulfatai Atata, described the amended Electoral Act as a major step forward for Nigeria’s electoral system.
According to him, the law introduces reforms aimed at improving transparency, strengthening internal party democracy and expanding the use of technology in elections.
“The amended Electoral Act introduces commendable reforms to enhance transparency, strengthen internal party democracy and leverage technology. However, its success will depend on effective implementation, institutional capacity and judicial interpretation,” Atata said.
