The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced intensified preparations for the 2027 General Election, pledging to deliver elections that are credible, inclusive, participatory and reflective of the will of Nigerians.
The commitment was made at a strategic joint implementation meeting of the Commission’s Voter Education and Publicity Department and Gender and Inclusivity Department, attended by Heads of Voter Education from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The meeting followed the conclusion of the recent off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states and was aimed at strengthening coordination and ensuring effective implementation of voter education and public engagement programmes ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking at the meeting, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the Commission’s immediate priority was to develop effective information and communication strategies capable of mobilising eligible Nigerians to participate actively in the 2027 elections.
Haruna said voter education must address basic questions about why citizens should vote, who should be targeted, what information should be provided, how messages should be delivered and when engagement should take place.
He, however, noted that communicating effectively across Nigeria’s diverse population required careful planning, professionalism and sustained engagement.
According to him, the objective of voter education is to equip Nigerians with the knowledge required to participate in elections and encourage eligible citizens to exercise their civic responsibility, while recognising that voting remains voluntary.
He identified women, youths, the media, civil society organisations, persons with disabilities and other stakeholder groups as key audiences whose information needs must be adequately addressed.
Haruna urged voter education and publicity officers to ensure that every message issued by the Commission is accurate, truthful, timely, transparent and consistent.
He also called for the use of communication channels appropriate to specific audiences and messages, as well as continuous monitoring and evaluation to determine the effectiveness of public engagement efforts.
The National Commissioner further urged officials to deepen their understanding of the electoral process, the Constitution, electoral laws, INEC regulations and guidelines, as well as relevant legislation, including the Freedom of Information and Data Protection laws.
He stressed that effective information management and compliance with the Commission’s communication policy were critical to building and sustaining public confidence in the electoral process.
Also speaking, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, who delivered a goodwill message on behalf of the Chairman, commended the Voter Education and Publicity and Gender and Inclusivity departments for organising the strategic meeting.
Oketola described the two departments as the “human face and voice” of the Commission, saying that while technology and logistics provide the operational backbone of election administration, effective voter education, communication and inclusivity are essential to building public trust and encouraging meaningful participation.
He said the communication environment ahead of the 2027 elections presented both opportunities and challenges, particularly because of the spread of misinformation, disinformation and toxic campaign rhetoric.
Oketola called for a shift from traditional announcement-based publicity to proactive, factual and sustained civic education through digital and mainstream media.
He said voters must be helped to understand INEC’s technologies, procedures and electoral safeguards in simple language, while the transparency and integrity of the electoral process must be consistently communicated.
He assured participants that the Office of the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman would work with the two departments to expand their reach and ensure that the Commission’s public messaging remained coherent, authoritative and persuasive.
The Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, said the meeting was significant as INEC moves from the recently concluded off-cycle governorship elections to full-scale preparations for the 2027 General Election.
Eta-Messi said the success of voter sensitisation and enlightenment programmes at the grassroots would depend largely on the capacity of officials responsible for implementing the Commission’s programmes across the states.
She said the meeting would provide field officers with a clear understanding of approved programmes, implementation modalities, timelines and expectations.
Similarly, the Director of Gender and Inclusivity, Lakunuya Dorothy Bello, said INEC’s commitment to credible elections must be matched by a strong commitment to electoral inclusion.
Bello stressed that elections go beyond voting, noting that every eligible Nigerian, irrespective of gender, physical ability or social status, should have an equal opportunity to participate meaningfully in the electoral process.
She identified women, youths, persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups, particularly those living in hard-to-reach communities, as priority groups for sustained and targeted voter education.
According to her, previous electoral experiences have shown the need for deliberate interventions to address barriers such as limited awareness, accessibility challenges and sociocultural constraints.
She urged stakeholders to translate INEC’s policies and frameworks into practical interventions capable of expanding participation well before Election Day.
The meeting underscored INEC’s determination under the leadership of Chairman Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, to place voter education, effective communication and inclusivity at the centre of its preparations for the 2027 General Election.
The Commission said its objective is to ensure that no eligible Nigerian is left behind in the electoral process.
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