Concerns have been raised about the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) readiness for the general elections in 2027 by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), a civil society organization.
When he appeared on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Personality Interview Series in Abuja on Sunday, Auwal Rafsanjani, the Executive Director of CISLAC and the Head of Transparency International Nigeria, voiced the concerns.
Rafsanjani stated that the reported shortcomings in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) local council elections and the recent by-elections in Rivers and Kano were the reason he was skeptical of the commission’s competence to hold the election.
According to him, the past experiences have raised concerns about INEC’s ability to hold credible national elections in the absence of immediate reforms.
To be honest, we are not quite sure that INEC is ready for 2027 given what happened in Rivers and Kano States, as well as during the most recent council elections in Abuja.
He stated, “The commission will need to work seriously towards blocking the gaps and lapses that were evident.”
He emphasized a number of issues, including the purported exclusion of significant opposition political parties from the ballot in some areas, which he called a “costly mistake” that could jeopardize the legitimacy and equity of the election process.
Another significant issue he raised was the supposed mistreatment of people with disabilities (PWDs) during the elections.
People with disabilities have fiercely complained about not being able to access, participate in, or receive assistance during these three elections.
Since many Nigerians are still unfamiliar with the modified eEectoral Act, INEC needs to perform a lot of public education and sensitization.
Civil societies are trying their best, but they are merely a supplement to the government; they are not it. He stated that INEC must be the driving force behind public education.
Logistical issues, according to Rafsanjani, are persistent issues that, if left unchecked, could undermine public confidence.
He said that other variables that could impact voter confidence include complaints about missing election materials, delays at voting places, and issues with election staff training.
It will be very difficult for Nigerians to trust INEC’s ability, he cautioned, “if basic supplies intended for polling stations are not delivered, if voters continue to face challenges, or if personnel are not adequately trained to handle election processes.”
Transparency International’s head in Nigeria counseled the electoral commission to take decisive action in order to win back public trust and satisfy international and domestic demands for genuine elections.
He stated that the upcoming months will be critical for INEC to show reforms, bolster logistics, improve inclusivity, and restore confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process as preparations for the 2027 general elections progressively get underway.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng).APC refutes ADC claims and conforms to INEC’s schedule.
In a related development, the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) updated 2027 election schedule has garnered significant support from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, which describes it as realistic, organized, and equitable to all political parties.
Steve Otaloro, State Director of Media & Publicity, told reporters in Akure over the weekend that the schedule demonstrates institutional balance and administrative vision.
“The requirement for digital membership registers is a progressive reform,” he said. It increases internal democracy within political parties, fortifies institutional discipline, and improves transparency. In the end, it strengthens the legitimacy of party primaries by lowering the disputes related to manipulated registers.
He stressed that the dates were made public well before the 2027 election cycle, giving all major political parties the time to adhere to the rules.
“Maintaining current membership records and holding peaceful primaries shouldn’t be a problem for properly organized political organizations. Any respectable political party must fulfill these fundamental obligations. Reforms that support election integrity and accountability are welcomed by the APC, Otaloro continued.
In response to the African Democratic Congress’ (ADC) claims that the new schedule was created to benefit President Bola Tinubu and the APC, the party rejected the assertion as hypothetical and devoid of supporting evidence.
“INEC functions under precisely specified constitutional bounds. Its scheduling decisions are not political tools; rather, they are administrative and legal judgments. “Politizing procedural timelines only serves to erode public trust in democratic institutions,” he stated.
Otaloro emphasized further that government performance is still the most important factor in any democracy and that President Tinubu does not need institutional manipulation to win the 2027 election.
“The President’s track record is self-evident. Nigeria is moving toward efficiency, fiscal restraint, and compliance with international best practices as a result of ongoing reforms in its energy sector, financial architecture, and infrastructure development. Long-term economic stability-focused structural reforms are already yielding quantifiable results in several important areas.
He emphasized revenue optimization, institutional reforms, energy sector recalibration, and macroeconomic restructuring as significant accomplishments that will inevitably affect voter choices.
The legitimacy of a performance, not conspiracies, determines an election. Policy continuity is necessary if Nigerians are to unite and sustain the benefits of these reforms. Stability, deeper structural corrections, and the full maturation of reform cycles will all be ensured by a second term.
The APC urged all political parties to uphold INEC’s constitutional independence, adhere to all election laws, fortify internal democratic processes, and offer policy options rather than spreading baseless accusations in order to guarantee fair competition before 2027.
The APC in Ondo State restated its belief that the party will be able to significantly influence the 2027 election outcome through a transparent electoral process and verifiable governance performance.Abbas explains why NASS authorized manual and electronic transmission.
Additionally, in order to prevent voter disenfranchisement and lower apathy in the run-up to the general elections in 2027, the National Assembly approved a hybrid system of electronic and manual transmission of election results in the amended Electoral Act, according to Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas on Sunday.
According to Abbas, relying exclusively on real-time electronic transmission throughout Nigeria is not feasible due to the country’s low internet penetration and erratic power supply.
During a courtesy visit to his office in the National Assembly compound in Abuja, the Speaker addressed Ambassador Felix Costales, the Spanish ambassador to Nigeria.
Abbas welcomed the envoy with Abubakar Bichi, the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations; Wole Oke, the chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; and Jafaru Yakubu, the chairman of the Nigeria-China Parliamentary Friendship Group, according to a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi.
According to the statement, the Spanish envoy also mentioned that Spain has a system in place that enables the manual transfer of election results.
Based on his discussions with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s leadership, Abbas promised that the general elections in 2027 will be more inclusive and credible.
“Sometimes, people scream far beyond the exact level of the issue,” the Speaker acknowledged in reference to the Electoral Act. Many believe that Nigeria needs to adopt real-time electronic transmission, but in the short time you’ve been here, you ought to be able to comment on the state of our internet infrastructure. You should be aware that reliable internet access is not always guaranteed, especially in developed places like Abuja.
According to the NCC report, he added, “Nigeria is still underserved by nearly 40%, meaning that 40% of the country’s total territory is not internet-connected.” Now, for those who are suggesting that we should already do that, let me tell you that the amount of people that are registered to vote in our country is concerning.
Sadly, we are only able to record 12–15% of registered voters who cast ballots every four years, even with the manual system we are utilizing. Voter apathy is what that is. Few persons cast ballots.
“Exclusive electronic transmission could further suppress participation,” he said. “Now, if we just implement the electronic system, it will further decrease the number because 40% of the population is likely to be unable to vote due to inadequate internet capabilities. In addition to depriving certain voters of their right to vote, it means that we should anticipate possibly the lowest turnout in the upcoming elections.
All of these can be prevented. Because of this, we wisely suggested that the Electoral Act be a hybrid, combining elements of the automated and manual processes. Because no single form, especially the electronic one, can be used completely throughout the nation for the elections, use the electronic transmission where it is practical and the manual when it is not.
The Speaker further maintained that even those who opposed the clause understood the limitations of the nation’s infrastructure.
The opposition is aware that Nigeria’s internet penetration rate is insufficient, despite the fact that they are Nigerians, live in Nigeria, and travel throughout the country. We cannot hold transparent elections with a system that is insufficient, and we also lack enough electricity due to the nation’s energy crisis.
“Energy is the foundation of the internet. How do you ensure that there is enough electricity to power the entire nation on voting day so that phones and the internet are operational? All of those issues will prevent us from doing real-time web transmission at this time.
Democracy, according to Abbas, is a process that develops gradually. “We will keep getting better year after year, election after election, throughout our entire democracy,” he declared. With the backing of nations like Spain, I think Nigeria would perform better.
We anticipate that you will continue to lead us and provide us with all the technical guidance and assistance we need to perform better, especially in the National Assembly, through cooperation between our parliament and your nation. It will significantly increase our level of proficiency, especially in the areas of drafting legislation and other related fields. I think Nigeria can gain a great deal from what you have in Spain.
Despite current difficulties, he continued, Nigeria was making consistent progress. You cannot claim to have everything you need. You’re constantly learning. Even while we may not be progressing as quickly as the outside community would want, we think Nigeria is doing okay.
Costales had previously stated that the goal of his visit was to develop bilateral connections between Spain and Nigeria and to advance legislative diplomacy. According to him, Spain would keep a careful eye on Nigeria’s election process and back initiatives to fortify democratic institutions.
You can rely on us to do everything in our power to strengthen Nigerian democracy. Although there can be difficulties, you can rely on us in every manner.
Additionally, the ambassador pointed out that political polarization was a worldwide occurrence. “When you dig down, sometimes you realize that the issues are not that big, or not as big as they seem in the public discourse,” he remarked. It’s common in Spain. In the end, compromise is necessary if you wish to advance in democracy. We must strive for consensus-based rule and governance.
