The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, has assured Nigerians that ballot box snatching and manual manipulation of election results will no longer threaten elections, citing improved technology ahead of the 2027 general polls.
Amupitan gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, as both agencies strengthened collaboration on voter education.
He said INEC’s technological systems, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), have significantly improved election transparency and will safeguard votes in 2027.
Despite these advancements, the INEC chairman warned that voter apathy and misinformation remain major challenges. He noted that recent elections, including the Federal Capital Territory Area Council polls and the Ekiti governorship election, recorded operational success but revealed low voter turnout and confusion among voters.
“We cannot rely on technology alone,” Amupitan said, stressing the need for intensified voter education, especially at the grassroots level.
He called for a joint nationwide campaign with NOA to educate citizens on the importance of voting, discourage vote-buying, and combat misinformation. He also emphasized the need for more youth-focused and digital engagement strategies.
In response, Issa-Onilu highlighted concerns over low voter turnout, noting that many registered voters fail to participate in elections. He reaffirmed NOA’s commitment to community-based advocacy and called for stronger collaboration with INEC to improve public awareness.
The 2027 general elections are scheduled to begin with the presidential poll on January 16, followed by governorship elections on February 6.
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