ABUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has projected that Nigeria’s registered voting population will exceed 100 million ahead of the 2027 general elections, cementing the country’s position as Africa’s largest electoral democracy.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mallam Mohammed Haruna, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja during the Commission’s “Joint Implementation Meeting of the Departments of Voter Education and Publicity (VEP) and Gender and Inclusivity (G&I) for the 2027 General Elections.”
Haruna noted that with the previous voter register standing at over 93 million, the figure is expected to cross the 100-million mark once the just-concluded nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) is finalised.
With 151 days to the first phase of the general elections, Haruna tasked INEC information officers with delivering effective publicity to mobilise all eligible citizens, describing the responsibility as both simple and complex.
“Our job is to give the widest and most effective publicity to all five sets of elections to mobilise all Nigerians of voting age to choose their leaders. This job is at once simple and complex,” he said.
He emphasised that managing communication for over 100 million voters demands high professional standards, urging information officers to equip themselves with relevant skills and a firm grasp of basic legal frameworks.
“First, we must have a grasp of the language we wish to communicate in and do so with the simplest words and in the most civil manner. Second, we must be knowledgeable about our country’s Constitution, the Electoral Law, and the Commission’s Guidelines. We must also be well-informed on other relevant legislation like the Freedom of Information and Data Protection Acts,” Haruna stated.
He added that building on the success of recent off-cycle elections, including Osun, required even greater effort to deliver the freest and most credible general elections in the country’s history.
INEC Vows to Combat Misinformation, Strengthen Inclusivity
In his remarks, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr Adedayo Oketola, reiterated the Commission’s commitment under Prof. Joash Amupitan to credible and inclusive elections, describing the joint meeting as timely and vital for drafting an actionable communication and inclusivity roadmap.
Oketola stressed that while technological infrastructure and operational logistics form the backbone of electoral administration, the two departments constitute the human face and voice of INEC.
“You build public trust, simplify complex procedures, and ensure that no eligible citizen is left behind,” he said.
However, he warned that the communication landscape leading into 2027 presents significant threats, including misinformation and disinformation aimed at undermining voter confidence and fuelling apathy.
“The antidote to disinformation is proactive, factual, and continuous public engagement. Our messaging must move beyond traditional announcement-style publicity into aggressive, daily civic education that demystifies our technology, such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Results Viewing (IReV), and reinforces the integrity of the open secret ballot system,” Oketola declared.
On gender and inclusivity, he reiterated that electoral access for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), women, youths, and elderly voters remains a constitutional right.
“From the deployment of Braille ballot guides and magnifying glasses to prioritising vulnerable queues and expanding youth participation through Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), 2027 must set a new benchmark for electoral access in Nigeria,” he said.
VEP Director Highlights Importance of Grassroots Reach
The Director of VEP, Victoria Eta-Messi, stated that INEC’s grassroots reach with regard to voter sensitisation and enlightenment depends largely on the capacity and efficiency of departmental heads, who are expected to be the drivers of programmes in their respective states.
Eta-Messi noted that the implementation meeting provides clarity and direction for uniformity in task execution.
“The off-cycle governorship elections are out of the way, and what lies ahead is the 2027 general election. Going by the line of activities of both departments, this meeting takes precedence and sets the tone for what lies ahead,” she said.
“This meeting will therefore provide a platform for both departments to walk participants through the Commission-approved activities, highlight the strategies for implementation, and ensure that the timelines and expectations are clearly understood.”
The meeting, held in Abuja, was attended by heads of departments of VEP and G&I from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
