INEC Assures Nigerians of Credible 2027 Elections, Says Every Vote Will Count

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians that every legitimate vote will count in the 2027 general elections, promising an electoral process that reflects the choice of the electorate.

The assurance was given by the Head of Voter Education and Publicity at INEC Kwara State, Dr Adejumo Peter, during a seminar organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ilorin.

Dr Peter said the commission would strictly follow established electoral guidelines and procedures to ensure that the 2027 elections are conducted fairly, transparently and credibly based on the principle of one person, one vote.

“INEC in Kwara will follow the rules and procedures as laid down by our commission. We will ensure that the elections are done on a one-man, one-vote basis. At the end of the exercise, the outcome of the elections will reflect the will of the people,” he said.

The INEC official dismissed concerns that politicians could manipulate election outcomes through the collection or hoarding of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), stating that technological improvements introduced by the commission have made such practices ineffective.

According to him, advances in the electoral system have prevented individuals from using another person’s PVC to cast votes, adding that this was why some politicians had shifted attention to vote-buying.

“INEC has done a lot so that people cannot use another person’s PVC to vote in an election. That is why politicians have resorted to vote-buying. Many of them are still living in the past because stockpiling PVCs cannot guarantee electoral victory,” he stated.

Dr Peter urged political parties and candidates preparing for the 2027 elections to focus on presenting clear programmes and policies to voters rather than engaging in violence or activities capable of undermining the electoral process.

He advised stakeholders to respect electoral rules and accept the outcome of elections conducted in line with democratic principles.

“Political parties and their candidates should obey the rules, focus on selling their manifestoes to voters and avoid any form of violence before, during and after the elections. Elections should be conducted peacefully, and everyone should respect the outcome,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, the Head of INEC’s Legal Unit in Kwara State, Atata Abdulfatai, described the amended Electoral Act 2026 as a significant development that would strengthen Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 elections.

Abdulfatai said the new legislation introduced reforms aimed at improving transparency, strengthening internal democracy within political parties and increasing the application of technology in electoral activities.

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