2027: INEC seeks Ekiti stakeholders’ collaboration for hitch-free poll

The Independent National Electoral Commission has expressed readiness for the conduct of the 2027 general elections in Ekiti State.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, however, urged election stakeholders in the state to collaborate and play their parts to ensure a successful exercise.

In Ekiti State, the 2027 elections will involve the conduct of presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives elections on January 16 and state House of Assembly elections on February 6, 2027.

Omoseyindemi, who spoke in Ado Ekiti on Saturday during a stakeholders’ meeting convened to discuss the level of preparation for the 2027 General Elections, said, “Our (INEC) preparations have been deliberate, comprehensive and proactive rather than reactive.”

He urged the stakeholders, saying, “Let us be guided by our common interest in strengthening democracy and ensuring that the voice of every eligible Nigerian is heard through a credible electoral process.

“The responsibility is collective. Political parties must conduct their activities within the ambit of the law; security agencies must remain professional and impartial; the media must uphold accuracy and responsible reporting, and citizens must participate peacefully and responsibly.

“Let us remember that the credibility of an election is not determined only on Election Day; it is built through adequate preparation, effective collaboration and public confidence long before the first ballot is cast.”

Omoseyindemi stressed that INEC remained “committed to conducting elections that are free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent. We will continue to uphold the principles of impartiality, accountability and professionalism in the discharge of our constitutional responsibilities.”

The REC, who said that security remained a critical component of election preparation, said, “Through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, we must continually identify, assess and develop appropriate responses to potential threats.

“We must pay particular attention to political violence, thuggery, vote buying, intimidation, hate speech, misinformation, disinformation and other activities capable of disrupting the electoral process. I urge all security agencies to sustain their cooperation with INEC and ensure adequate intelligence gathering, early warning, prevention and response mechanisms.”

As part of preparations to ensure hitch-free polls, the REC said that INEC in the state was working towards ensuring that eligible citizens could update their records and collect their Permanent Voter Cards, adding, “We must also ensure that the voters’ register is accurate, credible and free from avoidable errors and multiple registrations.”

The REC said that INEC in the state was also strengthening the capacity of its permanent and ad-hoc staff through appropriate training and retraining “to ensure that every election official understands his or her responsibilities and operates in accordance with established guidelines.”

He said that the electoral body was also reviewing its logistical requirements, including vehicles, motorcycles, generators, communication facilities, election materials, storage arrangements and deployment of personnel across the 16 council areas and 177 registration areas in the state, “to identify logistical gaps early and develop appropriate solutions to ensure timely deployment of personnel and materials on Election Day.”

Omoseyindemi said that INEC would continue to strengthen the capacity of personnel to deploy and operate the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and other approved technological applications, adding that “adequate preparation, testing and training are essential to minimise technical difficulties during accreditation, result management and other electoral operations.”

The REC restated Ekiti INEC’s commitment to ensuring inclusion and participation, saying, “The Commission remains committed to ensuring that women, youths, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are not excluded from the electoral process. We must identify and address barriers that may limit their participation as voters, candidates and election personnel.”

While saying public confidence in the electoral process depended largely on effective communication and sustained engagement, Omoseyindemi urged political parties, traditional institutions, religious organisations, civil society groups, the media and community leaders to continue working with INEC to promote voter awareness, peaceful participation and respect for electoral laws.

Stakeholders at the meeting included representatives of political parties, security agencies, monarchs, civil society organisations, faith-based organisations, youth and women’s groups, development partners and other critical stakeholders.