Electoral experts, security stakeholders and media executives have called for sustained collaboration, institutional strengthening and greater accountability among political actors to restore public confidence and ensure peaceful, credible and transparent elections in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The stakeholders made the call at a public discourse on “Strengthening Democratic Institutions for Credible Elections in Nigeria: 2027 and Beyond,” organised by the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI), Ondo/Ekiti States Chapter.
The panel featured INEC National Commissioner, Mallam Mohammed Haruna; Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), Mr Lanre Arogundade; Assistant Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mrs Olufunke Amos; and political scientist at Ekiti State University, Dr Mike Omilusi, who was also the keynote speaker.
Speaking at the event, Haruna acknowledged the decline in public confidence in the electoral process following the 2023 general elections, while highlighting improvements introduced by INEC, including online voter registration and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
He said the commission was committed to strengthening grassroots engagement with traditional institutions to encourage the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and address electoral challenges, including local thuggery.
In his contribution, Arogundade challenged political parties to uphold internal democracy, respect signed peace accords and dismantle vote-buying networks that exploit the economic vulnerability of Nigerians.
He also urged political leaders across party lines to stop using unemployed youths as instruments of electoral violence, stressing the need for meaningful youth inclusion in the democratic process.
On security, the DSS Assistant Director-General, Amos, called for stronger cooperation among security agencies, warning against unhealthy competition and rivalry that could undermine election security.
She advocated institutionalised intelligence-sharing, comprehensive human rights and electoral training for security operatives, as well as strict enforcement of statutory penalties against misconduct before, during and after elections.
The keynote speaker, Dr Omilusi, called for greater transparency in the collation and announcement of election results, noting that credible elections in 2027 would require far-reaching structural reforms beyond adjustments to electoral timetables.
He urged political parties to deploy trained and independent agents to polling units across the country to monitor voting and ensure proper documentation and protection of election results.
Supporting the calls for electoral reforms, Ondo State Deputy Governor and patron of the association, Dr Olayide Adelami, said continuous improvements to the electoral system were essential for the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.
The forum consequently called for a structured partnership among INEC, the judiciary, security agencies, civil society organisations and the electorate to ensure that election outcomes reflect the genuine wishes of voters.
Earlier, the Chairman of AANI, Ondo/Ekiti States Chapter, Dr Akinjide Akinleye, mni, said the discourse was strictly non-partisan and aimed at promoting peaceful, credible, inclusive and transparent elections.
He explained that the engagement was not intended to promote any political party or individual but to strengthen democratic institutions and safeguard national unity.
Akinleye added that the gathering was expected to go beyond identifying challenges by developing practical recommendations that would contribute to institutional reforms and improve electoral practices in the country.
He expressed the hope that the discourse would be remembered not only for the quality of its presentations but also for its practical contributions to Nigeria’s democratic future.
