2027: 9 of 14 activities completed, INEC says

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday said it completed nine of the 14 activities on its timetable for the 2027 general elections.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, said this at a youth engagement programme in Abuja.

The event titled “The Electorate: A Youth Dialogue with INEC”, under the theme “Let’s Talk About the 2027 Elections”, was organized by the Abuja Global Shapers Community, in collaboration with Yiaga Africa, Enough is Enough Nigeria, the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF).

Prof. Amupitan who was represented by the National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education (IVEC), Mallam Mohammed Haruna, said the commission had made significant progress in implementing its electoral timetable, which covers activities ranging from the announcement of elections and political party primaries to the publication of the voters’ register and candidates’ lists.

According to him, the voters’ register as a critical component of the electoral process, explaining that it would form the basis for accrediting eligible voters on election day.

He also said that the publication of candidates nominated by political parties for various elective positions was among the activities already completed.

The INEC helmsman acknowledged that the initial publication of candidates’ names had generated complaints from some political parties over alleged omissions and discrepancies.

He said that INEC had invited the affected parties to submit petitions, adding that the commission was working to resolve the complaints and finalise the candidates’ list.

He said the commission had increased the frequency of its meetings as the elections approached to assess preparations and take necessary decisions.

Commissioner Haruna also explained INEC’s organisational structure, as comprising a chairman and 12 national commissioners responsible for policy decisions, alongside resident electoral commissioners serving across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He also outlined the process for appointing national commissioners, which involves nomination by the President, consideration by the Council of State and confirmation by the Senate.

On her part, the Programme Manager for Governance at Yiaga Africa, Yetunde Bakare, called for deliberate efforts to ensure that young Nigerians could participate safely and meaningfully in the 2027 general elections.

Bakare said young people were not merely spectators in the electoral process but also voters, candidates, community mobilisers and stakeholders in the country’s democratic future.

Citing findings from Yiaga Africa’s voting intention survey, she said 84 per cent of Nigerians surveyed were likely or very likely to vote in the 2027 elections.

She, however, noted that 61 per cent of respondents feared that electoral violence could prevent them from voting.

Bakare also said that only 40 per cent of young respondents said they were very likely to participate in the elections, describing the finding as a concern that required the attention of electoral stakeholders.

She noted that encouraging young people to vote would not be enough without creating conditions that made their participation safe, accessible and worthwhile.

She acknowledged INEC’s early preparations, including online voter registration, printable Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), planned nationwide mock accreditation exercises and efforts to strengthen the governance of electoral technology and artificial intelligence (AI).

She, however, stressed that the commission’s preparedness must be evident to citizens, stressing that public confidence could only be earned through transparency, effective communication and credible electoral processes.

She urged young Nigerians to seek reliable information, reject electoral violence and misinformation, and hold elected officials accountable beyond election day.

Bakari urged INEC to communicate clearly with voters whenever technical or operational problems occurred, ensure transparency in the use of AI and make adequate provisions for eligible voters in hard-to-reach communities.

The Times reports that the general elections will be held on Saturday 16 January 2027 to elect the president and vice president, members of the Senate and House of Representatives; while elections to elect state governors and members of the house of assembly will be held on Saturday 6 February 2027.