INEC Warns Against Voter Apathy, Vote Buying Ahead of 2027
…As Oyo REC, Tella, calls for innovative grassroots approach to electoral education
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has called for intensified grassroots voter education and enlightenment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Oyo State, Prof. Adeniran Tella, made the call in Ibadan on Monday while speaking at a one-day capacity-building workshop for State Voter Education Desk Officers and Assistant Electoral Officers from Oyo, Ogun and Lagos States.
The workshop, held at Koltol Hotel, Ibadan, focused on strengthening voter education strategies and ensuring that eligible citizens are adequately informed about their rights, responsibilities and the electoral process ahead of the elections.
Professor Tella said the credibility of the 2027 general elections would depend not only on activities on Election Day but also on how well citizens are educated in the months leading to the polls.
He identified voter apathy, vote buying, misinformation and disinformation, as well as the difficulty of reaching voters in both urban and remote communities, as some of the major challenges that must be addressed.
The REC stressed the need for INEC officials to adopt innovative and grassroots-oriented approaches to voter education, noting that the electorate must be adequately informed about the voter register, voting procedures and the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS.
He said the workshop would also expose participants to practical voter education strategies, including community dialogues, stakeholder engagements and collaboration with traditional institutions, youth and women’s groups.
Tella further urged the officers to maximise communication channels such as community radio, local newspapers, markets and religious institutions, while also using social media to counter misinformation and fake news with verified information.
According to him, voter education officers must move beyond being office-based and take electoral information directly to markets, motor parks, schools, farms and other grassroots communities.
Oyo REC charged the participants to be trusted sources of accurate electoral information, verify information before sharing it and correct misinformation with patience and clarity.
He also called for greater collaboration among electoral officers, civil society organisations and community-based groups, stressing that achieving a credible 2027 election requires the collective effort of all stakeholders.
Prof. Tella expressed confidence that the capacity-building workshop would equip the participants with the necessary knowledge and practical skills to effectively educate the electorate and promote peaceful participation in the 2027 general elections.
