Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the National Orientation Agency will expand joint efforts on civic and voter education nationwide. The partnership aims to rebuild trust in Nigeria’s electoral process, curb misinformation and drive higher voter turnout
The commitment was made during a strategic meeting between the leadership of both institutions, where they emphasised the need for sustained public enlightenment to strengthen democratic participation and ensure credible elections.
Speaking at the meeting, INEC Chairman, Professor Amupitan, described the engagement as a significant step towards deepening democracy, noting that both organisations share the responsibility of promoting democratic values and educating citizens on their civic duties.
According to him, democracy can only thrive when citizens are well-informed and actively participate in the electoral process.
He explained that although INEC has continued to invest in technology, logistics and administrative reforms to improve election management, such efforts would have limited impact if citizens remained disconnected from the democratic process or lacked confidence in the electoral system.
The INEC chairman identified voter apathy as one of the greatest threats to Nigeria’s democracy, attributing the declining turnout during elections to a growing trust deficit among the electorate.
He warned that dwindling public confidence could undermine the credibility of future elections unless deliberate efforts were made to rebuild trust through sustained voter education and public engagement.
Professor Amupitan also raised concerns over the increasing spread of misinformation capable of discouraging voter participation.
He recalled that during the last Federal Capital Territory election, false narratives, including the circulation of an old violence-related video and allegations of illegally stored Permanent Voter Cards for a political party, created unnecessary anxiety before they were eventually debunked.
According to him, such misinformation is often deliberately designed to weaken public confidence and discourage citizens from exercising their constitutional right to vote.
To address the challenge, he advocated a decentralised grassroots voter education campaign that would deliver electoral information in indigenous languages, explain voting procedures, clarify misconceptions about the electoral process and educate Nigerians on the legal safeguards protecting election integrity.
He likened the relationship between INEC and NOA to complementary roles in a football team, explaining that while INEC provides the framework for credible elections, NOA possesses the grassroots communication network and cultural understanding needed to shape public attitudes and promote democratic participation across the country.
On his part, Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Mallam Issa Lanre-Onilu, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting INEC in strengthening civic and voter education.
He described democracy as the foundation of Nigeria’s development, stressing that citizens’ right to choose their leaders must be protected through continuous public enlightenment.
Lanre-Onilu noted that the 2023 general election exposed significant gaps in public understanding of the electoral process, especially among first-time voters, leading to widespread misconceptions and unnecessary controversies.
According to him, inadequate knowledge of electoral laws and procedures fuelled misinformation and distracted public discourse from substantive democratic issues.
He emphasised that credible elections require collaboration among key stakeholders, including INEC, political parties, voters, the media, civil society organisations and security agencies.
The NOA boss said the agency was well-positioned to support voter education, citing its extensive grassroots presence with offices in all 774 local government areas, 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as its nationwide feedback and public engagement structures.
He called for a long-term partnership with INEC that extends beyond election periods, arguing that civic education should be a continuous national exercise rather than an activity limited to the months preceding elections.
Lanre-Onilu also appealed for greater institutional support to expand voter education initiatives, expressing confidence that stronger collaboration between both agencies would improve voter turnout, enhance public trust in the electoral process and consolidate Nigeria’s democracy.
He added that continuous civic education would help citizens better understand not only the voting process but also post-election legal procedures, thereby reducing misinformation and strengthening confidence in democratic institutions.
