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By Gabriel Ameh
The Federal Government has called on Nigerians to reject vote-buying, electoral violence and voter apathy ahead of the 2027 general election, warning that these practices threaten democratic participation, national unity and public confidence in the electoral process.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the call during the flag-off of a nationwide grassroots mobilisation campaign organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Abuja.
The campaign, themed “Your Vote, Your Voice: Vote-Buying and Violence,” seeks to encourage Nigerians to participate in the electoral process, protect their votes and promote peaceful conduct before, during and after the elections.
Idris, who commended the NOA and its Director-General, Lanre Issa Onilu, said the initiative was important in helping citizens understand their responsibilities in protecting Nigeria’s democracy.
He stressed that elections were more than a single day at the polling unit, describing them as opportunities for citizens to choose their representatives and influence the direction of their communities and the country.
According to him, when eligible voters stay away from elections, sell their votes or engage in violence, the democratic process suffers.
FG Highlights Electoral Reforms, Calls for Credible Elections
The minister said the government recognised the importance of strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions and electoral framework.
He highlighted electoral reforms introduced under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying that an effective legal framework must be supported by responsible conduct from political parties, electoral officials, citizens and the media.
Idris also emphasised the importance of adequate funding for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), arguing that investing in credible elections was preferable to the financial and human costs associated with electoral violence.
However, he cautioned that laws and institutions alone could not guarantee credible elections without the cooperation and integrity of all stakeholders.
He urged Nigerians to reject vote-buying, noting that financial inducements undermine voters’ freedom to make independent choices.
The minister also warned that electoral violence threatens lives, divides communities and weakens public confidence in democracy.
Minister Urges Media to Fight Misinformation
Idris called on media organisations to combine press freedom with professional responsibility, particularly as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said the media had an important role in addressing voter apathy, promoting civic education and ensuring that Nigerians received accurate information about voter registration, voting procedures and their electoral rights.
The minister further warned against fake news, misinformation and deliberate attempts to mislead the public, describing them as challenges that extend beyond Nigeria.
He urged journalists to verify information before publication and avoid spreading unconfirmed reports capable of creating fear, confusion or tension.
Idris also called on community leaders, political parties and civil society organisations to support the campaign and promote peaceful electoral participation without discrimination or intimidation.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting efforts aimed at ensuring that the 2027 general election was transparent, credible and trusted by Nigerians.
INEC Chairman Assures Nigerians of Preparations for 2027 Polls
The Chairman of INEC, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, said the commission was committed to conducting free, fair, transparent and credible general elections in 2027.
Amupitan described the NOA’s grassroots mobilisation initiative as timely, stressing that administrative efficiency must be matched by strong civic awareness and responsible participation by voters.
He said elections could help strengthen national unity if Nigerians rejected divisive tendencies and approached the electoral process with a shared commitment to the country’s future.
According to him, INEC and the NOA share important responsibilities because both institutions operate across Nigeria’s 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory and the country’s 774 local government areas.
He noted that INEC’s operational reach also extends to wards, communities and polling units, making collaboration with the NOA essential for effective voter education and public engagement.
The INEC chairman explained that preparations for the 2027 elections had been ongoing since the conclusion of the 2023 general election, with the commission reviewing previous electoral experiences, studying reports from observers and identifying potential challenges.
He said the commission had also conducted internal reviews and preparatory engagements to improve its readiness for the next electoral cycle.
INEC Reports 103 Million Registered Voters
Amupitan disclosed that Nigeria had more than 103 million registered voters expected to participate in the 2027 general election.
He explained that the commission used its Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) to identify and remove duplicate registrations during the compilation of the voters’ register.
The exercise, he said, helped establish the number of eligible registered voters ahead of the next general election.
The INEC chairman also highlighted improvements in voter registration, including provisions that allow eligible Nigerians to register outside their usual locations, subject to the commission’s procedures.
He further discussed measures intended to address challenges involving lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), including provisions for downloadable voter cards, subject to applicable legal and operational requirements.
Amupitan said INEC would deploy personnel and electoral infrastructure across 176,846 polling units nationwide for the 2027 elections.
He described the scale of the exercise as a major administrative undertaking, adding that the outcome would have implications beyond Nigeria because of the country’s size and influence across Africa.
The chairman urged Nigerians to support the electoral process and recognise the importance of credible elections to democratic development.
NOA Takes Campaign to Communities Nationwide
The Director-General of the NOA, Lanre Issa Onilu, said the agency would use its grassroots structures to take the campaign to communities across the country.
He explained that the initiative would be implemented through the agency’s state directorates across the 36 states and the FCT, alongside Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers operating across the 774 local government areas.
According to him, the campaign would extend beyond the flag-off ceremony to markets, neighbourhoods, community meeting places and other public spaces where citizens could engage in discussions about the electoral process.
Onilu said the agency would work with market associations, transport workers, youth organisations, women’s groups, traditional institutions, religious leaders and other community networks to promote responsible electoral participation.
He added that the engagement would provide opportunities for citizens to ask questions, address misconceptions and understand the consequences of voter apathy, vote-buying and electoral violence.
The NOA director-general stressed that no political ambition should cost a Nigerian their life and that political disagreements should not destroy relationships between neighbours.
He also warned against allowing temporary financial inducements to determine decisions that could affect the country’s future.
Youths, Women and Persons with Disabilities to Be Included
Onilu said the campaign would give particular attention to young people, women and persons with disabilities to ensure that their concerns and barriers to participation were addressed.
He explained that the agency would use local languages and accessible communication formats to make its messages understandable to different communities.
Planned engagement methods include radio discussions, community dialogues, drama and short audio messages designed to communicate the importance of peaceful participation and informed electoral choices.
He also called on traditional and religious leaders to support peacebuilding, discourage inflammatory language and help resolve tensions arising from political disagreements.
The NOA director-general said the agency’s goal was to ensure that citizens understood their roles in the democratic process and had access to reliable information to guide their decisions.
The campaign is expected to continue through the election period, with grassroots mobilisation aimed at encouraging Nigerians to participate peacefully, reject electoral malpractice and respect the choices of fellow citizens.
The three institutions expressed the need for cooperation among government agencies, political parties, the media, civil society organisations and community leaders to strengthen public confidence in the 2027 general election.
Source: Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation; Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); National Orientation Agency (NOA).
