Concerns have been raised by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), a civil society organization, over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) readiness for the general elections in 2027.
During his appearance 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 said he was skeptical of the commission’s competence to hold the election because of the alleged irregularities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) local council elections and the recent by-elections in Rivers and Kano.
He claimed that if immediate reforms are not implemented, the experiences have raised questions about INEC’s ability to hold credible national elections.
We can’t be quite sure that INEC is ready for 2027, to be honest, given what happened in Rivers and Kano States and even during the most recent council elections in Abuja.
He stated, “The commission will need to work seriously toward blocking the gaps and lapses that were evident.”
He cited a number of concerns, 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 alleged mistreatment of people with disabilities (PWDs) during the elections.
People with disabilities have expressed strong dissatisfaction over their inability to receive assistance, access the polls, or take part in them during each of these three elections.
Since many Nigerians are still unfamiliar with the new eEectoral Act, INEC needs to perform a lot of public education and sensitization.
“Civil societies are doing their best, but they are merely a supplement to the government; they are not it. He asserted that INEC must be the driving force behind public education.
Rafsanjani noted that logistical issues are persistent issues that, if left unchecked, could undermine public confidence.
He asserts that other elements that may impact voter confidence include complaints about missing election materials, hold-ups at voting places, and issues with election staff training.
“It will be very difficult for Nigerians to trust INEC’s capacity 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,” he said.
In order to regain public trust and satisfy domestic and international demands for legitimate elections, the head of Transparency International in Nigeria counseled the electoral commission to take decisive action.
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 gradually get underway.(www.nannews.ng) (NAN).As APC supports INEC’s schedule, it refutes ADC’s claims.
In a related development, the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) updated 2027 election schedule has garnered the support of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, which describes it as practical, organized, and equitable to all political parties.
Steve Otaloro, the State Director of Media & Publicity, told reporters in Akure over the weekend that the schedule demonstrates institutional balance and administrative foresight.
“The mandate for digital membership registers is a progressive reform,” he said. It deepens internal democracy inside political parties, improves transparency, and fortifies institutional discipline. In the end, it strengthens the legitimacy of party primaries by decreasing conflicts related to manipulated registries.
He underlined that the timetables were made public well before the 2027 election cycle, giving all significant political parties the time to adhere to the rules.
Maintaining current membership databases and holding peaceful primaries shouldn’t be a problem for properly organized political organizations. Any legitimate political party must fulfill these fundamental obligations. Reforms that advance electoral accountability and integrity are welcomed by the APC, Otaloro continued.
In response to claims made by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) 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 well-defined constitutional bounds. Its scheduling choices are not political tools; rather, they are administrative and legal judgments. He claimed that politicizing procedural deadlines only serves to erode public trust in democratic institutions.
Otaloro further emphasized 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 record is self-evident. Nigeria is moving toward efficiency, fiscal restraint, and alignment with international best practices as a result of ongoing reforms in its financial architecture, energy sector, and infrastructure development. Long-term economic stability-focused structural reforms are already yielding quantifiable results in several important areas.
He emphasized institutional reforms, energy sector recalibration, revenue optimization, and macroeconomic restructuring as significant accomplishments that will inevitably affect voter choices.
Credibility of performance, not conspiracies, determines elections. Policy consistency is crucial if Nigerians are to unite and sustain the benefits of these reforms. A second term will ensure stability, strengthen structural adjustments, and enable reform cycles to reach their full potential.
The APC urged all political parties to respect INEC’s constitutional independence, adhere to all election laws, fortify internal democratic processes, and offer policy alternatives rather than spreading baseless accusations in order to guarantee a level playing field ahead of 2027.
In Ondo State, the APC reiterated its belief that a transparent election procedure coupled with a track record of effective governance will significantly influence the 2027 election outcome in the party’s favor.Why NASS authorized manual, electronic transmission — Abbas
In order to prevent voter disenfranchisement and lower apathy ahead of 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, it is not feasible to rely entirely on real-time electronic transmission throughout Nigeria due to the country’s low internet penetration and erratic power availability.
During a courtesy visit to his office at the National Assembly compound in Abuja, the Speaker addressed Ambassador Felix Costales, the Spanish ambassador to Nigeria.
Abbas received 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 permits the manual transfer of election results.
Based on his interactions 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 added in reference to the Electoral Act. Many people believe that Nigeria needs to adopt real-time electronic transmission, but you should be able to comment on the quality of our internet network in the short time you’ve been here. You should be aware that reliable internet connectivity is not always guaranteed, especially in developed places like Abuja.
He went on, “According to the NCC study, Nigeria is still underserved by about 40%, meaning that 40% of Nigeria’s total territory is not internet-connected. If you’re arguing that we should already do that, tell me about it. The number of people that are registered to vote in this 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 setup we are utilizing. Voter apathy is that. Not many people cast ballots.
Exclusive electronic broadcast, he said, might further stifle participation. Now, if we just implement the electronic system, just 40% of the population will likely be unable to vote due to inadequate internet access, which will further lower the number. That means that in addition to disenfranchising voters—denying some people the ability to vote—we should anticipate possibly the lowest voter turnout in the upcoming elections.
“All of these are preventable. For this reason, we wisely suggested that the Electoral Act be a hybrid, combining elements of the electronic and manual processes. Since there is no possibility for one form—especially the electronic one—to be used completely throughout the nation for the elections, use the electronic transmission where it is practical to do so and the manual when it is not.
The Speaker went on to say that even those who opposed the clause understood the constraints 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 there, and travel throughout the country. In addition to the fact that we lack enough electricity due to the nation’s energy crisis, it is impossible to hold transparent elections with a system that is insufficient.
“Energy always powers the internet.” On election day, how do you ensure that there is enough electricity to power the entire nation so that phones and the internet are operational? Because of all those difficulties, we will not be able to undertake online real-time transmission at this moment.
Democracy, according to Abbas, is a slow process that gets better with time. “We will continue to improve year after year, election after election, throughout our entire democracy,” he stated. With the help of nations like Spain, I think Nigeria would perform better.
“With cooperation between your nation and our parliament, 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. It will significantly increase our proficiency, especially in the areas of drafting legislation and other related fields. I think Nigeria can gain a lot from what you have in Spain.
Despite current obstacles, he continued, Nigeria was making steady progress. “You can’t claim to have everything you need. You never stop learning. Although it may not be progressing as quickly as the international community would like, we think Nigeria is doing okay and are making moderate but steady progress.
Costales had earlier stated that the goal of his visit was to develop bilateral connections between Spain and Nigeria and to advance legislative diplomacy. He declared that 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. Yes, there can be difficulties, but you can always rely on us.
Political polarization is a worldwide issue, the ambassador added. When you look deeper, you may find that the problems are not as significant as they appear to be in the public conversation, he added. In Spain, it frequently occurs. Ultimately, in order to advance democracy, some degree of compromise must be reached. We must attempt to govern and rule at the level of consensus.
