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By Gabriel Ameh
By Media360Impact
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) have unveiled a nationwide voter education initiative aimed at reversing voter apathy, combating misinformation and rebuilding public confidence ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The partnership, announced on Wednesday during a meeting between the leadership of both agencies at INEC headquarters in Abuja, is expected to leverage NOA’s nationwide network of 818 offices, including offices in all 774 local government areas, to deepen civic education and strengthen democratic participation across the country.
Speaking during the meeting, INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, said declining voter turnout and the spread of misinformation now pose greater threats to Nigeria’s democracy than logistical or technological challenges.
According to him, although the electoral commission has significantly improved election management through innovations such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), those gains will have little impact if eligible Nigerians fail to participate in elections.
“We can deploy the best technology, optimise our systems and perfect election logistics, but none of that will matter if Nigerians lose faith in the value of their votes,” Amupitan said.
The INEC chairman noted that recent elections, including those conducted in the Federal Capital Territory and Ekiti State, witnessed more than 90 per cent early opening of polling units, smooth biometric accreditation using BVAS and prompt electronic transmission of results through IReV.
Despite those operational improvements, he observed that voter turnout remained below expectations as many eligible voters encountered challenges with polling unit transfers, voter registration updates and understanding new electoral procedures.
“The technology is advancing faster than public understanding,” he said, stressing that voter education has become as important as election logistics in sustaining Nigeria’s democracy.
Amupitan disclosed that INEC will work closely with NOA to deliver sustained voter education through grassroots mobilisation, local language communication, digital platforms and community engagement.
The campaign, he explained, will also address vote-buying, debunk misinformation surrounding elections and educate Nigerians on how technology has reduced opportunities for ballot box snatching and manipulation of election results.
“As we prepare for the 2027 elections, we cannot afford to wait until campaigns begin before engaging Nigerians. The work of rebuilding confidence must start now,” he added.
He assured that INEC would provide technical expertise, voter education materials and institutional support to ensure the success of the collaboration.
The commission also revealed that preparations for the 2027 general elections have commenced, with the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship elections are expected to hold on February 6, 2027.
Responding, NOA Director-General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, described the partnership as timely, noting that the agency’s extensive grassroots structure places it in a strategic position to sustain voter education beyond election periods.
According to him, lessons from the last general election exposed significant civic knowledge gaps, particularly among first-time voters and members of Generation Z.
“The last election in particular saw something happen in this country. The people we refer to as Gen Z came of age. When it came to its own drawback, we saw a huge gap in knowledge and we saw a lot of productive time committed to issues that should never be discussed because there was only so much knowledge. That was very dangerous for us as a country,” Issa-Onilu said.
He maintained that civic education should become a continuous national exercise rather than an activity confined to election periods.
“Education is not adequate if it is done only during elections. It has to be continuous. Even in an election year, it should not start only a few months before voting.”
Issa-Onilu further stressed that patriotism, public trust and confidence in democratic institutions cannot be imposed but must be deliberately nurtured through sustained public engagement and responsible governance.
Both agencies agreed to jointly design and implement a nationwide grassroots civic education programme that will combine NOA’s extensive field network with INEC’s electoral expertise to educate voters, counter fake news, explain electoral procedures and strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
The initiative is expected to play a key role in ensuring that Nigeria’s growing investment in election technology translates into higher voter turnout, fewer electoral disputes and stronger democratic participation during the 2027 general elections.
