2027 Polls: INEC Under Pressure To Rebuild Public Trust

Civil society organisations have mounted pressure on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that unresolved controversies from the 2023 polls could further weaken trust in the country’s democracy.

The groups, Yiaga Africa and Centre for Transparency and Advocacy, said the electoral umpire must urgently embrace transparency, improve communication with Nigerians and strengthen its electoral technology to guarantee credible elections in 2027.

Director of Programmes at Yiaga Africa, Cynthia Mbamalu, who spoke with LEADERSHIP Sunday, said INEC’s biggest responsibility ahead of the next general elections was to conduct credible and transparent polls capable of restoring confidence in both the Commission and the democratic process.

According to her, rebuilding trust would require sustained openness, institutional reforms and consistent engagement with voters, political parties and other stakeholders long before the elections.

She stressed that trust in democratic institutions is earned through visible actions and accountability, not mere assurances.

“Trust is not established instantaneously; rather, it is the result of persistent communication and demonstrable actions that exhibit commitment to democratic tenets and institutional responsibilities,” she said.

Mbamalu noted that public concerns surrounding the 2023 general elections, particularly the performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), must be openly addressed by the Commission.

She said many Nigerians were still dissatisfied with the technological glitches that affected the 2023 presidential election and warned that failure to resolve lingering doubts ahead of 2027 could deepen public distrust in the electoral process.

According to her, INEC should formally engage Nigerians on the challenges encountered during the elections and clearly explain measures already taken to improve the performance of the BVAS and IReV systems.

She argued that such openness would demonstrate the commission’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

The Yiaga Africa official further stated that electoral technology would remain central to the credibility of future elections, making it necessary for INEC to continuously upgrade and test its systems ahead of 2027.

She also urged the commission to ensure that its electoral guidelines under the Electoral Act 2026 are clearly drafted and released early enough to eliminate ambiguities capable of affecting election administration.

Mbamalu called for greater investment in civic and voter education to enable Nigerians understand the provisions of the Electoral Act and actively participate in the electoral process.

She also advised the commission to begin strategic planning for election logistics and operations well ahead of the polls, noting that poor logistics had repeatedly undermined elections in parts of the country.

According to her, the 2026 governorship elections in Ekiti State and Osun State, as well as upcoming bye-elections, would serve as key tests of INEC’s preparedness ahead of 2027.

“Nigerians will scrutinise INEC’s performance during these elections, including the voter registration and PVC collection processes, to assess the commission’s readiness for 2027,” she stated.

Mbamalu further urged INEC to strengthen its internal oversight and disciplinary mechanisms to curb professional misconduct among electoral officials.

She warned the commission against actions capable of portraying it as partisan, insisting that it must maintain neutrality, independence and impartiality at all times.

“Nigerians deserve credible elections that restore faith in the democratic process,” she added.

Also speaking with LEADERSHIP Sunday, Executive Director of Centre for Transparency and Advocacy, Faith Nwadishi, said transparency and proactive communication would be critical to rebuilding trust ahead of the 2027 elections.

Nwadishi urged INEC to remain open in its dealings with citizens and ensure timely dissemination of information on electoral activities to reduce suspicion and misinformation.

The advocacy groups maintained that with rising political tensions and increasing scrutiny ahead of 2027, the electoral commission must take deliberate steps to reassure Nigerians and the international community of its commitment to free, fair and credible elections.