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By Tracy Moses
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that without active engagement from political parties and citizens, Nigeria’s elections risk becoming hollow exercises, devoid of genuine democratic participation.
Speaking at INEC’s first regular consultative meeting with political parties on Thursday in Abuja, Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, acknowledged the impact of technological innovations like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in curbing ballot fraud, but stressed that technology alone cannot restore public trust or boost voter turnout.
“Technology is a tool, not a solution,” Amupitan said. “Without active citizen participation and political parties educating and mobilising voters, our democracy will continue to suffer.”
He highlighted a worrying trend in voter participation, noting that turnout in presidential elections fell from 53.7 per cent in 2011 to just 26.7 per cent in 2023. According to Amupitan, this decline reflects growing public distrust, fueled by anomalies in the voters’ register, including duplicate registrations, entries for non-citizens, and records of deceased persons.
To address these challenges, INEC plans a nationwide voter revalidation exercise ahead of the 2027 General Election. The exercise will sanitise the voters’ register and ensure only eligible Nigerians can vote, with further details to be released in due course.
Amupitan also urged political parties to intensify voter education and mobilisation, warning against vote-buying, which he described as a criminal offence that undermines the foundations of democracy.
He further called on party leaders to resolve internal disputes and strengthen internal democracy, noting that leadership crises and ongoing litigation distract from election preparations and erode public confidence.
Echoing these concerns, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) urged INEC to remain independent, neutral, and firm in its constitutional responsibilities as preparations for the 2027 General Election intensify.
“INEC must consistently provide a level playing field for all political parties and candidates,” IPAC National Chairman Dr. Yusuf Mamman Dantalle said. He stressed that adherence to party constitutions in recognising leadership would reduce litigation and strengthen democratic stability.
IPAC also called for reforms including the harmonisation of Nigeria’s electoral legal framework, mandatory real-time transmission of results, and the conduct of all elections on the same day to curb costs and voter fatigue. Dantalle described the upcoming February 21, 2026, FCT Area Council elections as a key test of INEC’s credibility ahead of the 2027 polls.
“As the umbrella body of all registered political parties in Nigeria, IPAC will continue to collaborate with INEC and other stakeholders to deepen democracy, promote political stability, and ensure credible elections,” Dantalle concluded.
Without active participation from political parties and citizens, Amupitan warned, Nigeria’s elections risk becoming mere formalities, failing to reflect the true will of the people.