The Independent National Electoral Commission has cautioned that Nigeria’s 2027 general elections could be undermined by emerging threats such as Foreign Information Manipulation, the volatility of social media, artificial intelligence-driven disinformation, and persistent logistical hurdles.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, voiced these concerns on Thursday in Abuja while delivering remarks at the second annual lecture of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies.
The event, themed “Credible Elections and National Security in Nigeria,” attracted security professionals, policy strategists, and key electoral stakeholders.
Amupitan described the risks as a complex combination of digital interference and physical insecurity, including insurgency, communal conflicts, and election-related violence. He warned that the convergence of these factors could deepen public distrust in the electoral system and weaken confidence in governance.
“It is our collective responsibility to close this gap with surgical precision, hence the importance of this lecture. We must recognise that credible elections foster public trust in governance, and this trust is crucial for national security. When citizens believe in the electoral process, they are more likely to accept the outcomes, reducing the tensions that can lead to unrest.”
He emphasised that credible elections play a vital role in sustaining national security by strengthening public confidence and minimising post-election crises. The INEC boss urged stronger collaboration among the commission, security agencies, civil society organisations, and the electorate to reinforce the integrity of the electoral process.
Addressing preparations for the 2027 elections, Amupitan highlighted declining voter turnout as a growing concern with security implications. He noted that participation dropped from 53 per cent in 2011 to 26 per cent in 2023, warning that such low engagement could be exploited to question the legitimacy of election outcomes.
“Voter apathy is no longer just a civic concern but a growing security challenge. Apathy is a security threat. Despite the peaceful conduct of the FCT council polls, where turnout improved from 9.4 per cent to 15 per cent, voter apathy still remains a sobering challenge. Every vote cast is a brick in the wall of national security,” Amupitan said.
In response, INEC has introduced revised voter education materials aimed at increasing public participation ahead of the polls. The commission disclosed via its official X account that the initiative was developed in partnership with both local and international organisations, including the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI).
The updated materials comprise a revised National Voter Education Manual as well as a youth-oriented Civic and Voter Education Manual designed to encourage active and informed participation, particularly among young Nigerians.
Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, while speaking at the unveiling, expressed concern over the steady drop in voter turnout since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. He observed that participation has declined from over 60 per cent in 2003 to below 30 per cent in recent elections, attributing the trend to limited voter awareness and weak motivation.
Haruna explained that the manuals were produced in collaboration with KDI to deepen citizens’ understanding of the electoral system and stimulate greater civic engagement. He added that while the Electoral Act 2026 has enhanced transparency through improved legal provisions and electronic processes, legislation alone cannot solve the problem of voter disengagement.
“An indifferent electorate is a democracy in retreat,” the keynote address stated, stressing the need for sustained investment in civic education to rebuild trust and participation.
Meanwhile, a former Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, criticised the 2026 Electoral Act, describing it as a setback to Nigeria’s democratic progress. Speaking at the same AANISS lecture, he argued that the amended law could hinder the conduct of credible elections.
“The current amendment to the Electoral Act is a tragedy to our country, a big tragedy. It is a regression,” Igini said.
He maintained that the earlier 2022 Electoral Act had been widely regarded as progressive but had been weakened by subsequent amendments. According to him, the legal framework governing elections remains central to their credibility, particularly at the pre-election stage.
Igini also raised concerns about the judiciary’s increasing role in determining election winners, insisting that electoral outcomes should be decided at polling units rather than in courtrooms.
“I am worried about the expanding empire of the courts in determining who becomes the winner of elections in our country. The winner of the election must be determined finally and conclusively at the polling unit and not in the court of law,” he said.
Despite public criticism, President Bola Tinubu signed the amended Electoral Act into law in February 2026, a move that has continued to generate debate among political stakeholders and opposition groups.
Separately, the Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movement (AYDM), a coalition of about 130 pan-Yoruba civil society and community-based organisations, has urged President Tinubu and the National Assembly to prioritise restructuring before the 2027 presidential election.
The call was made during a one-day unity and solidarity conference held at St. Agnes Catholic Church Hall in Maryland, Lagos, under the theme “Democracy and Good Governance in Nigeria: Peoples’ Power and Voters in Nigeria.”
The gathering drew over 800 delegates from states in the old Western Region, including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Delta, and Edo, as well as representatives of Yoruba and Itsekiri communities from across West Africa. A follow-up session focusing on regional security and economic issues was scheduled for the second day.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and signed by AYDM General Secretary, Popoola Ajayi, the group warned that failure to restructure the federation before the next election could heighten national tensions. It also advocated that the presidency in 2027 should remain in the South in line with the principle of rotational leadership.
The communiqué argued that since independence in 1960, the North has held power for a longer period than the South, creating what it described as a political imbalance. It warned that abandoning power rotation could threaten national cohesion.
The group further cautioned against any disruption of democratic governance through military intervention, stating that such a development would worsen the country’s political and security situation.
Additionally, AYDM called for sweeping reforms in the nation’s security framework, including the establishment of state police and decentralisation of military training institutions. It also expressed concern over rising insecurity in parts of the South-West and urged the Federal Government to take decisive action to protect lives, property, and democratic institutions.
