‘Flawless Or Nothing’: INEC Sets High Bar For 2027 Elections

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has vowed to close every loophole to guarantee free, fair, and credible polls, according to IReporter Online.

INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, made this pledge yesterday in Abuja during the training of the Commission’s Inclusivity Officers, an event organised by the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF) and funded by the European Union (EU).

he Commission also disclosed that the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will take place in 811 centres across all 774 local government areas, the 36 states, and the Federal Capital Territory, starting August 18 with online pre-registration. In-person registration will follow on August 25, and both will run concurrently until August 30, 2026.

Prof. Ajayi stressed the importance of inclusivity in the electoral process, especially for persons with disabilities (PWDs), noting that there should be no repeat of the 2023 complaints about lack of access to assistive devices.

He explained that INEC has a dedicated inclusivity department and is committed to involving all citizens — male, female, able-bodied, and disabled — in participatory democracy.

The training, he said, would empower desk officers to translate policies into action in their respective states and LGAs, ensuring no eligible voter is left behind. “We are prepared for any change, and we will accommodate everyone in our database,” Ajayi affirmed.

NWTF CEO, Brenda Anugwom, described the workshop as an investment in building an inclusive electoral culture. She emphasised the need for knowledge sharing to foster a uniform and equitable electoral system nationwide.

The FCT INEC Commissioner, Aminu Kasimu Idris, added that the workshop was timely given the proximity of the 2027 elections and the resumption of the CVR exercise.

INEC will deploy an online CVR Live Locator from August 17 to help citizens find registration centres with ease, according to IReporter Online.

On political party registration, INEC revealed that since July 23, 2025, it has received eight additional letters of intent from associations, bringing the total to 151. These associations’ names, acronyms, logos, addresses, and interim leaderships have been published online.

The Commission has started shortlisting those that meet the criteria for the next application stage, with updates expected after the August 16 bye-elections in 12 states.

INEC reassured Nigerians of its transparency and readiness to keep the public informed every step of the way, according to IReporter Online.

”IREPORTER REPORTS”