The Independent National Electoral Commission had conducted a total of seven general elections in Nigeria since the country returned to democratic rule. They include the 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019 and the 2023 general elections. Regrettably, these elections were characterized by irregularities such as snatching of ballot papers and boxes, snatching or withholding of result sheets by criminal elements, mutilation of result sheets and declaration of false results which led to litigations and voter apathy. INEC is preparing to conduct the eight general election in 2027.
To ensure successful conduct of the polls, the Commission recently presented a budget of eight hundred and seventy three point seventy eight billion naira to the National Assembly Joint Committee on Election Maters. The sum of three hundred and seventy five point seventy eight billion naira is for general conduct of the election, ninety two point thirty one billion naira is administrative cost, two hundred and nine point twenty one billion naira is for procurement of election materials while one hundred and fifty four point ninety billion naira is the capital cost. Forty one point sixty one billion naira is for miscellaneous expenses.
In exercising the powers vested in it by the 1999 constitution and the Electoral Amendment Act to organize, undertake and supervise elections in Nigeria, INEC released the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections a few days ago. According to the timetable, the Presidential and National Assembly elections are slated for Saturday, February 20 ,2027 while the Governorship and State Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, March 6, 2027. Campaigns by political parties for Presidential and National Assembly elections will start from November 18, 2026 to February 19,2027 while the campaigns for Governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls commence from December 15, 2026 to March 5, 2027. Party primaries are fixed from July 1,2026 to September 30,2026. Submission of lists of candidates is between October 1 and 31,2026 while publication of the final lists of candidates is November 15,2026. Expectedly, criticisms and mixed reactions have continued to trail the election timetable. While some key stakeholders particularly the political class viewed the timely release of the timetable as an innovation in relation to electoral best practices in advanced democracies, others described it as ill-timed, diversionary, a distraction to governance, a deliberate move to abandon development projects in some states and calculated attempt to rig the election in favour of the ruling political party. Meanwhile, INEC had explained that the timetable is subject to adjustment or review where necessary and assured Nigerians of its commitment to conduct free and fair elections in 2027. Notwithstanding the divergent opinions on the election timetable, INEC deserves commendations for early release of the 2027 election timetable.
For instance, with the early release of the guidelines, all the democratic institutions, agencies and critical stakeholders in the electoral process are expected to commence early preparations to ensure success of the elections. Without prejudice to the principle of Separation of Powers, the executive branch of government is expected to release election funds to INEC before the commencement of the elections to enable the Commission plan adequately for the polls. The National Assembly is expected to ensure speedy amendment to and passage of the Electoral Amendment Act particularly the clause relating to real-time electronic transmission of results from the polling units to INEC Results Viewing Portal. From all indications, Nigerians are tired of manual collation of election results that could not reflect their desires and wishes over the years. There is also an urgent need for the President to sign into law the amended version of the Electoral Amendment Act which mandates Electoral Officers to transmit election results electronically to INEC’s Results Viewing Portal.
The Judiciary is expected to interprete the electoral laws justly, enforce sanctions against violations and flagrant disobedience to court orders and judgements. Early release of the election timetable will afford all the second term public officers the opportunity to prepare to render account of their stewardship to the people in line with the principle of democratic governance and provisions of the Code of Conduct Bureau. On its own part, INEC is expected to justify any amount of money approved for the 2027 general elections by procuring enough functional voting machines and transmitting election results electronically. Aside from remaining neutral, impartial before, during and after the election, INEC must guard against a repeat of its past mistakes. It must also intensify efforts at voter registration, voter education and distribution of Permanent Voter Cards. To allay fear of possible disruption of the 2027 general elections by bandits, kidnappers and terrorists, the government at all levels should address the problem of insecurity in the country before the elections. While security agencies should be adequately equipped and motivated to discharge their duties , their officers and men should resist the temptation of being used to undermine the electoral process through intimidation of opposition political parties, aspirants , their supporters and facilitation of electoral malpractices. The security agents for election duties are expected to be non-partisan, neutral and impartial.
As part of their own preparation towards ensuring the success of the 2027 elections, the Mass Media should adhere strictly to their watchdog role of public enlightenment and mass mobilization for political participation. While the Federal and State Governments demonstrate genuine and sincere commitment to press freedom, adequate funding and equipping of their radio and television stations, newspapers and magazines, the Media are expected to give equal airtime and space to all the political parties and aspirants to showcase their manifestos and familiarize with the people. They are equally expected to accept and use their adverts and jingles in line with relevant laws guiding their operations. Aside being discreet on issues bothering on national unity and peaceful co-existence, the Media are expected to resist attempt by any political party, politician or group to announce election results not declared by INEC in 2027. The Civil Society Organisations are not left out. They are also expected to commence early preparations by reinvigorating mechanisms for promotion of free and fair elections, accountability and good governance through effective monitoring of political activities, checking abuse of office, abuse of power of incumbency, violation of human rights and the rule of law.
Finally, early release of the election timetable will assist eligible voters to register, study the programes and intentions of the political parties and the aspirants with a view to determining why they should vote and who to vote after party primaries. Those who lost their voter cards are expected to replace them before the elections. Nigerian citizens are expected to realize the power of voter cards and the need to exercise their constitutional and legal right to vote voluntarily in the 2027 general elections.
