2027: Group tasks INEC on transparency, accountability as CVR ends

A civil society organisation, Enough is Enough, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prioritise transparency and accountability to build public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.

The Executive Director of the organisation, Mrs Ufoma Nnamdi-Udeh, gave the advice in an interview with the news reporters as the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) ends nationwide.

INEC had extended the CVR until July 25 to enable more eligible Nigerians to obtain Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), describing the exercise as vital to deepening democracy.

Nnamdi-Udeh said that beyond the registration, INEC should address lack of confidence in the electoral system by some members of the public.

“We call on the commission to conduct publicly-observable mock accreditation and vote transmission exercises ahead of the elections.

“INEC must also disclose its procurement details and system stress-test results to demonstrate transparency and allow time to address identified gaps,” she said.

Nnamdi-Udeh said that while citizens showed strong enthusiasm to participate in the elections, trust in the system remained fragile.

She said that trust in the electoral system would depend more on proven performance than assurances.

She said that the organisation had continued to mobilise voter participation through its RSVP (Register | Select | Vote | Protect) campaign.

According to her, the initiative has mobilised millions of Nigerians since 2010, with a target to mobilise more citizens ahead of the 2027 elections.

“As part of this effort, we took voter registration to places where young people gather, including universities, cultural events, raves and faith communities across Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states, in collaboration with INEC,” she said.

Nnamdi-Udeh disclosed that the organisation reached more than 700,000 young Nigerians during the CVR through physical and digital engagements while operating an RSVP Call Centre and a WhatsApp community.

She added that the organisation engaged INEC in consultations to ensure that citizens’ perspectives were reflected in electoral planning.

Assessing voter preparedness, she distinguished between citizen readiness and institutional capacity.

“On citizen readiness, we are encouraged. Everywhere we went, people were eager to register and often brought others along.

“However, on the institutional side, there is still work to be done.

” We encountered equipment shortages, server downtime and registration centres that were not easily accessible,” she said.

She acknowledged INEC’s introduction of innovations such as the self-service portal and weekend registration but said they were introduced late and had limited impact.

On registration figures, she cautioned against using them as a sole measure of public interest.

On youth engagement, Nnamdi-Udeh said that young Nigerians were increasingly politically aware but demanded more efficiency from institutions.

“The frustration we observed was not with democracy but with barriers to participation.

“Many young people were influenced by their peers; once they saw others registering, they joined,” she said.

Nnamdi-Udeh said that feedbacks from participants highlighted progress as well as persistent challenges, including long queues, server downtime, inadequate equipment, and distance.

She also noted technical challenges, particularly among iPhone users, who experienced difficulties completing biometric capture on the self-service portal.

On public trust in INEC, she said confidence was conditional.

“While INEC has shown willingness to engage, trust requires consistent, transparent performance across all stages of the electoral process,” she said.

Nnamdi-Udeh advised Nigerians, particularly the youth, to remain engaged beyond voter registration.

“Registration is only the first step.

“Citizens must collect their PVCs, confirm their polling units, understand the issues and candidates, and vote responsibly,” she said.

She stressed the need for greater public awareness of the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines to avoid post-election disputes.

“Our RSVP Call Centre and WhatsApp community will remain active through the 2027 elections because participation is a continuous process,” she added.

Meanwhile, some prospective voters, who spoke with NAN, expressed mixed feelings.

Miss Tayo Adedeji, a 29-year-old lawyer and first-time registrant at Ojodu-Berger, expressed eagerness to vote.

Similarly, a trader, Mr Bolarinwa Idris, said he endured long queues to register and was hopeful that his votes would count.

INEC has reaffirmed commitment to credible elections in 2027.

At a democracy roundtable organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the commission’s Deputy Director of Voter Education and Planning, Magdalene Aku, said that INEC remained focused on protecting the will of members of the electorate.

“For INEC, making your vote count is not just a slogan; it is the bedrock of our democracy,” she said.

Aku highlighted the deployment of technologies such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing portal to enhance transparency and tackle electoral fraud.

She urged Nigerians to reject vote-buying, describing voters as the ultimate election decision-makers.

“If your vote doesn’t matter, why does somebody want to buy it?” she asked.