2027 Elections: Ballot Box Snatching, Result Manipulation Are Over, Says INEC

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), has assured Nigerians that technological innovations introduced by the commission have effectively ended the era of ballot box snatching and manual manipulation of election results ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja while receiving the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, during a courtesy visit to the INEC headquarters, Amupitan said the commission is committed to safeguarding every vote through improved electoral technology and stronger voter education.

The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration between INEC and the NOA to enhance voter awareness and participation before the 2027 elections.

Amupitan noted that the presidential election is scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship elections will take place on February 6, 2027. He stressed the need to begin extensive civic engagement immediately, warning that voter apathy and misinformation remain major threats to credible elections.

According to him, Nigerians must be educated on the importance of their votes and the effectiveness of the commission’s technological safeguards.

The INEC chairman highlighted the commission’s performance during the February 21 Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections and the June 20 Ekiti State governorship election, citing early deployment of election officials, successful use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and prompt upload of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

Despite these achievements, he expressed concern over low voter turnout and widespread confusion among some voters regarding polling unit realignments and voter registration transfers.

He said the situation showed that while electoral technology has advanced, public understanding of the system has not kept pace.

“This clearly demonstrates that voter education must be intensified. We cannot wait until the eve of the 2027 elections before educating Nigerians about the electoral process,” he added.

Amupitan also stressed that technology alone cannot guarantee credible elections without an informed and engaged electorate.

He described the NOA as a critical partner in promoting democratic values and called for a nationwide grassroots voter education campaign to combat vote-buying, misinformation and political apathy.

The INEC chairman further urged that NOA field officers receive adequate training on the commission’s electoral processes so they can effectively educate citizens at the community level.

He reaffirmed INEC’s readiness to support the partnership by sharing resources, technical knowledge and institutional support to ensure successful voter enlightenment across the country.

Earlier, NOA Director-General Lanre Issa-Onilu said stronger collaboration between both agencies was necessary to improve voter turnout, noting that participation in recent elections has remained significantly lower than the number of registered voters.

He said the agency was already engaging communities nationwide through advocacy campaigns and sought deeper cooperation with INEC to expand civic and voter education.

Issa-Onilu added that beyond encouraging citizens to vote, Nigerians should also be educated on post-election processes, including how to monitor electoral disputes and court proceedings, to strengthen confidence in the country’s democratic system.

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