The NRM calls for transparency, electoral accountability and credible elections that reflect the genuine will of the Nigerian people.
As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) faces a defining test: demonstrating that it can organise elections that are transparent, credible, inclusive and worthy of public confidence.
According to a report published by Premium Times on 5 October 2026, INEC announced plans to convene a national stakeholders’ meeting and a world press conference as preparations entered the final 100-day countdown. The commission said it would provide updates on the voters’ register, candidate nominations, election logistics and measures to protect the integrity of the electoral process.
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for 16 January 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for 6 February 2027.
The NRM welcomes engagement between INEC and political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, the media and other stakeholders. However, Nigerians need more than conferences, assurances and carefully worded statements. They need verifiable evidence that the commission is prepared to conduct elections in which every eligible vote counts and every legitimate vote is protected.
Electoral credibility must be demonstrated, not declared
The credibility of an election depends not simply on the commission’s public statements but on the transparency of its procedures, the consistency of its decisions and its willingness to be held accountable.
INEC should provide clear, accessible and regularly updated information on its operational readiness. This should include the status of voter registration and voter identification, polling-unit arrangements, recruitment and training of electoral personnel, distribution of election materials, contingency planning and the procedures for collating and announcing results.
Where technology is used to support accreditation, transmission or collation, the commission should explain how these systems will operate, how failures will be handled and what safeguards will prevent technical difficulties from undermining the integrity of results.
The public should not have to rely on assurances alone. Readiness should be measurable, independently scrutinised and communicated in language ordinary Nigerians can understand.
INEC’s independence must be protected
An independent electoral commission is essential to democratic government. Its independence, however, must be reflected in both its institutional arrangements and its conduct.
INEC must demonstrate impartiality in its dealings with all registered political parties and candidates, regardless of their political influence or access to government. The same rules, deadlines and standards must apply to everyone.
The NRM believes that public confidence will be strengthened when electoral decisions are transparent, complaints are addressed promptly, and the commission provides clear explanations for consequential decisions. Perceived or actual unequal treatment can damage confidence in the entire process, particularly when the public receives insufficient information about how decisions were reached.
The responsibility for protecting electoral independence does not rest with INEC alone. The federal and state governments, political parties, security agencies and other public institutions must refrain from conduct that could compromise the fairness of the contest.
The 100-day countdown must prioritise voters
Electoral preparations should be judged by their impact on voters, not by the number of meetings held.
INEC must pay particular attention to the practical barriers that can prevent citizens from exercising their constitutional rights. These include inaccessible polling facilities, inadequate voter information, delays at polling units, logistical failures and obstacles faced by persons with disabilities, older citizens and voters in underserved communities.
Young Nigerians also deserve meaningful opportunities to participate in the democratic process. Voter education must go beyond urging citizens to register and vote. It should explain how to verify registration details, identify official election information, report irregularities and seek remedies when electoral rights are infringed.
A credible election requires citizens to have confidence not only that they can cast their ballots, but also that those ballots will be counted and the results accurately declared.
Political parties and security agencies must act responsibly
The integrity of an election is a shared responsibility, although INEC retains its statutory role in administering the process.
Political parties and candidates must respect electoral laws, campaign peacefully and reject intimidation, vote-buying and the deliberate spread of disinformation. Security agencies must remain professional, impartial and accountable in carrying out their election-related duties.
INEC’s engagement with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security is therefore important. But the public also needs confidence that security arrangements will protect voters, election officials, journalists, observers and party agents without being used to intimidate political opponents or suppress lawful participation.
Electoral disputes must be addressed through established legal channels. Equally, those channels must be accessible, timely and capable of providing effective remedies.
Transparency requires meaningful public scrutiny
INEC’s plan to bring together political parties, civil society groups, observer organisations, disability advocates, youth representatives, traditional and religious leaders, diplomatic representatives and the media offers an opportunity for constructive engagement.
That opportunity should not end when the meeting concludes.
The NRM calls for regular public updates on the commission’s preparations, clear responses to legitimate stakeholder concerns and timely publication of relevant electoral guidelines and operational information. Where concerns are raised, INEC should explain what action it will take and how the public can assess progress.
Election observation and independent reporting should be treated as essential components of democratic accountability. Transparency is most effective when citizens, journalists, political parties and civil society organisations can independently assess the information provided by the electoral commission.
Nigeria needs credible elections, not just an election date
The 2027 general elections will be a major test of Nigeria’s democratic institutions. The stakes extend beyond the contest between individual candidates and political parties. They concern the legitimacy of elected governments, the peaceful transfer of power where applicable, public confidence in institutions and the belief that democratic participation can produce meaningful change.
The NRM urges INEC to use the final countdown to demonstrate operational competence, institutional independence and a firm commitment to transparency. The commission should make its preparedness visible, address weaknesses early and ensure that the same standards of fairness apply across the country.
We also call on Nigerians to remain engaged, obtain information from official sources, participate peacefully and insist on accountability from every institution involved in the electoral process.
Democracy cannot be sustained by election announcements alone. It depends on credible procedures, responsible political leadership, informed citizens and institutions that earn public trust through their actions.
The NRM’s position is clear: Nigeria deserves elections in which the people choose their leaders freely, every eligible voter can participate, every legitimate vote is protected, and electoral institutions are accountable to the Nigerian people. The 100-day countdown must be a period of demonstrable preparation—not merely another round of promises.