The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed all Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to intensify voter education and sensitisation across Nigeria, emphasizing that effective electoral policies are only impactful when citizens understand the voting process.
Speaking at a meeting with RECs in Abuja on Wednesday, INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan said that while voter turnout improved in the recent Federal Capital Territory Area Council election—from 9.4% in 2022 to about 15%—more efforts are needed to engage voters and build confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan warned against absenteeism and dereliction of duty among staff, noting logistical delays during the FCT polls where only 45% of polling units were operational by 8:30 a.m. He stressed that sanctions will be imposed on staff or contractors who undermine the electoral process.
To safeguard election results, the INEC boss explained that presiding officers are now required to upload Form EC8A directly into the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) and enter party scores into the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which performs internal validation checks to prevent over-voting.
Amupitan urged RECs to implement continuous voter awareness campaigns, institutionalize post-election reviews, and uphold professionalism at all levels to strengthen public trust in Nigeria’s democracy and ensure credible elections in the lead-up to the 2027 polls.
