10/6/2026
Vote-buying Concerns in 2027 Election Rise as 103 Million Voters Put INEC, Media Under Pressure for Credibility
This is why INEC’s appeal to editors is significant. The commission is effectively asking the media not only to report what happens during the election, but also to help voters understand what is actually happening.
2027 Election Concerns
Culturays — The Urban Naija News
Vote-buying Concerns in 2027 Election Rise as 103 Million Voters Put INEC, Media Under Pressure for Credibility
vote-buying-concerns-2027-election-rise-as-103-million-voters-put-inec-media-under-pressure-for-credibility
Nigeria’s 2027 general election is entering a critical phase, with more than 103 million voters now on the national register and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stepping up preparations to protect the credibility of the vote.
The figure, announced by INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, followed the completion of a three-phase Continuous Voter Registration exercise that produced 10,772,421 new registrations, subject to the commission’s biometric verification process. But the size of the register is only part of the significance of the development.
With more than 103 million Nigerians potentially participating in the election, the commission faces the enormous task of ensuring that voters are properly accredited, polling takes place as scheduled and attempts to manipulate the process are contained. INEC has already announced measures aimed at strengthening the technological and operational side of the election, including the acquisition of 57,000 additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices.
The commission says the devices have undergone software hardening, battery optimisation and biometric calibration to reduce accreditation bypass and manual manipulation. Another issue giving the development wider relevance is INEC’s renewed focus on vote-buying and illegal campaign spending.
The commission says it is working with relevant anti-graft and financial intelligence agencies to strengthen monitoring of campaign finance and detect attempts to influence voters with money or other inducements. For an electorate of more than 103 million people, preventing vote-buying will require more than rules on paper. It will depend on enforcement, voter awareness, financial monitoring and the ability of citizens to recognise and report attempts to manipulate their choices.
INEC has also indicated that it wants to improve the coordination of voting across polling units, with the commission targeting simultaneous commencement of voting nationwide.
Why the media
Amupitan made the disclosure at a strategic workshop for media executives organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in collaboration with INEC. His message to editors went beyond conventional election reporting.
He urged the media to work with the commission to create a public information environment based on verified facts, civic responsibility and institutional trust, while confronting disinformation without suppressing legitimate criticism.
That places the media at the centre of another major battle surrounding the 2027 election, the battle over information. With millions of voters preparing to make decisions based on information received through television, newspapers, websites, social media and other digital platforms, inaccurate election information can have consequences beyond a single misleading report.
False claims about voting dates, polling locations, voter registration, accreditation procedures, candidates or election results could potentially create confusion among voters and undermine confidence in the process.
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