2027: INEC must earn voters’ trust before election day — IPC

By Hadiza Yusuf The International Press Centre (IPC) has urged officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to build public confidence in the electoral body ahead of the 2027 general elections through transparent conduct, accurate information and effective communication. The Executive Director of IPC, Dr. Lanre Arogundade, said public trust in the commission must be established long before election day, warning that misinformation, disinformation and inaccurate communication could undermine the credibility of the electoral process.

Arogundade spoke on Wednesday in Kano at a two-day capacity-building engagement for INEC’s Voter Education and Publicity (VEP) and gender officials on electoral trust, effective communication, legal literacy and voter engagement. He noted that INEC had become a major subject of public discussions surrounding the elections, including disagreements among political parties and their supporters, even when the commission was not directly involved in such disputes.

He said the manner in which INEC officials respond to public concerns and clarify issues could either strengthen or weaken confidence in the electoral body. “Every public interaction can either deposit or withdraw institutional trust,” he said. Arogundade explained that the training was designed to deepen the officials’ understanding of the Electoral Act, improve their communication skills, prepare them for crisis situations and equip them with the ability to verify and respond to false information.

He stressed that VEP officials must be able to explain electoral laws and procedures in simple language, particularly when disputes arise or tensions develop during the electoral process. He warned that inaccurate responses to questions about electoral laws and voting procedures could damage the commission’s credibility more than withholding an answer.

“A vague or inaccurate answer from a VEP official, for example, on legal questions around the Electoral Act or voting procedures can cost the commission more than silence would,” he said. The IPC director also called on INEC to establish dedicated fact-checking units in its state offices to identify and respond promptly to false information circulating about the commission.

He said the officials would be introduced to social media listening techniques to monitor conversations about INEC in their respective states and provide clarifications where necessary. Arogundade expressed concern over the growing use of artificial intelligence to generate misleading content, noting that voices could be cloned within minutes and election result sheets falsified within seconds.

Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), Dr. Akin Akingbulu, said building public trust required more than issuing public statements, urging INEC to match its promises with concrete actions. “Walk the talk. That is, do what they are supposed to do to deliver a credible election. Be honest with the people,” he advised.

Akingbulu also called on the commission to respond promptly to misinformation and disinformation, adding that security agencies, the media and other institutions had important roles to play in ensuring credible elections. In his remarks, the Kano State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Zango Abdu, said the training was part of INEC’s preparations to ensure its officials were adequately equipped for the 2027 general elections.

Abdu said the commission was reviewing lessons from previous elections, identifying challenges and strengthening its operational capacity, logistics and deployment strategies to improve its preparations. He added that the new Electoral Act had provided an opportunity for the commission to improve its operations and the conduct of elections. On voter education, the REC said INEC was collaborating with relevant government agencies, civil society organisations and international partners to increase public awareness and mobilise voters ahead of the polls.

He specifically identified the National Orientation Agency (NOA) as one of the commission’s partners, noting that its presence across the 774 local government areas would help expand voter education activities. “Voter education is very crucial. Without voter education, you should forget free and fair elections,” Abdu said. He explained that voters needed to understand their rights, know their polling units and familiarise themselves with the basic rules guiding the electoral process to participate effectively.