2027: Civil society groups push for stricter anti‑vote‑buying measures

3 weeks ago 5

ARTICLE AD BOX

CSOs Seek tougher measures against vote buying

Warn against voting mediocres—Call for early BVAS, IReV audit

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

ABUJA — Ahead of the 2027 elections, the national leadership of accredited civil society organisations (CSOs) and community‑based organisations (CBOs) in Nigeria has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to adopt tougher measures against vote buying and to reinforce electoral technology.

The CSOs, accredited by the United Nations and coordinated through the Civil Society Organisations on Community Advancement and Humanitarian Empowerment Initiative (CSCHEI), also cautioned Nigerians against supporting candidates of questionable character.

Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, the coalition said it would not allow unpatriotic elements to spread hate speech or misinformation that could trigger political instability.
The Director General of CSCHEI and National Project Convener, Hon. Kunle Yusuff, asserted that credible 2027 elections would hinge on transparency, accountability, and proactive reforms by the electoral authority.
Yusuff called on INEC to carry out early audits and stress‑tests of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to rebuild public confidence in the voting process.
He said INEC should “strengthen electoral technology and transparency” by conducting “early audits and stress‑tests of IReV and BVAS/BVAR, publish results of mock tests, and establish fallback protocols for real‑time transmission.”
He also urged the commission to “release a clean, auditable voter register 90 days before the election.”
The civil‑society coalition expressed alarm over the rising threat of vote buying and electoral violence, and called for stronger collaboration among INEC, security agencies, and anti‑corruption bodies.
“Deploy joint INEC‑security‑CSO task forces in flashpoint LGAs 30 days before the election. Work with EFCC, ICPC, and CBN to monitor suspicious campaign financing and enforce the ban on unauthorised party agents near polling units,” Yusuff said.

The groups also urged reforms in the recruitment and training of ad‑hoc election staff.
“Use a merit‑based public portal for recruitment, conduct scenario‑based training, and ensure timely payment of allowances,” he added.

On inclusion, the coalition asked INEC to increase accessible polling units for persons with disabilities and internally displaced persons, and to pilot diaspora voting in five countries.
The CSOs further recommended partnering with community‑based organisations to deepen voter education in local languages ahead of the elections.

Warning against actions that could erode public trust in the electoral process, Yusuff said Nigerians expect honesty and transparency from electoral authorities.

“Nigerians do not expect perfection, but they expect honesty, transparency, and visible effort to fix problems. INEC’s greatest risk in 2027 is not technology, but the perception that the outcome is predetermined before voting begins,” he said.

Speaking about the coalition’s planned “Nigeria First” agenda for the 2027 elections, Yusuff said the initiative would focus on accountability, issue‑based campaigning, and citizen‑centred governance.

“The summit will create a platform to assess candidates and manifestos based on capacity, integrity, and alignment with Nigeria’s needs, not party loyalty,” he stated.
He added that the coalition would organise debates for presidential, governorship, National Assembly, State Assembly, and local government candidates across the country.
“They must explain how their manifestos address SDGs, climate action, climate financing, and how they will deliver democratic dividends quickly. Enough is enough of having professional destitute in office,” he said.

The coalition also praised the current security architecture under National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, citing achievements in the fight against terrorism and banditry.

According to the groups, more than 13,500 terrorists and criminals have been neutralised, and over 124,000 Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters and their families have surrendered.
They also noted more than 775 terrorism‑related convictions and the rescue of over 11,250 hostages in Zamfara and Kaduna states.

The coalition reaffirmed its readiness to work with INEC, security agencies, and political actors to ensure credible, fair, and peaceful elections in 2027.
“Our focus is clear: Nigeria First,” Yusuff said.

The post 2027: CSOs Seek tougher measures against vote buying appeared first on Vanguard News.