The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on the United Nations to support efforts to curb disinformation, strengthen election security and promote inclusive participation ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Titiansloaded reports that INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, made the appeal on Wednesday while receiving a UN delegation led by Dr Leonardo Santos Simão, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Amupitan said the commission was seeking stronger collaboration with the UN in areas including electoral information integrity, early warning security monitoring and the participation of women, young people and vulnerable groups.
He identified foreign information manipulation, fake news and targeted electoral disinformation as growing threats to democratic processes across West Africa.
“As we deepen our preparations for the 2027 general elections, the commission welcomes continued strategic support and collaborations with the United Nations in several key areas,” he said.
The INEC chairman called for joint efforts to establish rapid-response mechanisms and public awareness campaigns to address foreign interference and electoral disinformation.
He described misinformation and disinformation, particularly those involving foreign actors, as major challenges to the electoral process.
Amupitan reiterated the commission’s commitment to conducting free, fair, credible and transparent elections in 2027, saying INEC was strengthening its operations to protect the integrity of the ballot.
He disclosed that the commission was implementing institutional reforms, upgrading technology and cleaning up the national voter register ahead of the polls.
According to him, Nigeria’s voter register currently contains 103 million voters, with people aged between 18 and 34 accounting for nearly 29 per cent of the electorate.
Amupitan said the commission had used technology, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), to identify and remove more than 1.5 million ineligible registrations before reaching the current figure.
He added that the register-cleaning exercise was continuing through the display of the voter register for claims and objections, as provided under Section 19 of the Electoral Act. The final register, he said, would be published on December 15.
The commission is also distributing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to newly registered voters, those who updated their details and individuals seeking replacement cards.
To improve accreditation speed and operational efficiency on election day, Amupitan said INEC had reduced the number of voters assigned to each BVAS device from 1,250 to 800.
He further disclosed that the commission planned to conduct nationwide mock accreditation and election exercises to assess its technical preparedness and strengthen public confidence ahead of the general elections.
Amupitan said INEC’s priorities included efficient logistics, transparent result management through the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) and timely announcement of results.
“Election should be a source of peace, stability and nation-building,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the UN delegation, Simão said the visit was intended to provide moral and strategic support to Nigeria as it prepares for the elections.
He noted that Nigeria’s position in West Africa made the success of its electoral process important to the wider region, adding that peaceful polls could serve as an example for neighbouring countries.
Simão stressed the need to manage the competing opinions and emotions that accompany elections without undermining national peace and stability.
He also pointed to the security challenges facing Nigeria, including terrorism and other forms of violence, warning that elections should not worsen the country’s situation.
The UN representative urged INEC to ensure that the 2027 elections were conducted peacefully.
