By Stella Odueme
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on the United Kingdom and the United Nations to support efforts to combat foreign-driven disinformation, artificial intelligence-enabled manipulation and other threats to Nigeria's 2027 general election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, made the appeal on Wednesday during separate meetings with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Mr Leonardo Santos Simao, and the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Pete Vowles, at the Commission's headquarters in Abuja.
Amupitan described Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) as a growing threat to electoral credibility, national stability and democratic development in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
He urged both international partners to collaborate with INEC on rapid-response mechanisms, public awareness campaigns and other initiatives to counter fake news, hate speech and the misuse of artificial intelligence during elections.
The INEC chairman said the Commission was already engaging traditional rulers and other stakeholders at national and zonal levels to educate citizens and electoral personnel on the dangers of misinformation and the importance of verifying information before sharing it.
He also sought the UN's assistance in developing early-warning and monitoring systems, facilitating dialogue among political actors and promoting the inclusion of women, youths and vulnerable groups in the electoral process.
On preparations for the 2027 general election, Amupitan disclosed that the Commission had moved from strategic planning to full-scale implementation, with nine of the 14 activities on its revised electoral timetable already completed.
He said the National Register of Voters had exceeded 103 million, with young Nigerians aged 18 to 34 accounting for nearly 29 per cent of the electorate.
According to him, INEC is displaying the voter register for claims and objections, while the final register is scheduled for publication on December 15, 2026.
The chairman added that the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards was ongoing across the 774 local government areas, with collection points decentralised to ward levels to improve accessibility.
He further disclosed that the Commission's Candidates Nomination Portal had processed submissions from 21 of the 22 registered political parties, covering presidential, National Assembly, governorship and state assembly elections.
On election technology, Amupitan said INEC had secured 57,000 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices, with shipments arriving for testing and configuration.
He noted that the Commission was also procuring ballot boxes and voting cubicles for the country's 176,846 polling units, while arrangements were being made with the Nigeria Customs Service and other port authorities to facilitate the clearance of election materials.
However, he appealed for additional financial support to expand the planned mock accreditation and election exercise, which he said would provide a more comprehensive assessment of the Commission's technological and operational readiness.
Amupitan also identified adequate funding, effective logistics, cybersecurity, efficient result management and improved security as critical to conducting credible elections.
He said INEC was working with security agencies through the Election Risk Management tool to identify vulnerable areas and strengthen preventive measures against possible electoral violence.
The chairman described the United Kingdom as one of the Commission's longstanding international partners and solicited further assistance in cybersecurity, specialised training for election officials, institutional capacity building and voter education, particularly for marginalised groups.
Responding, the UN envoy, Simao, assured INEC of the organisation's support, stressing that elections should promote peace and stability rather than create additional security challenges.
He said the UN had engaged political parties, candidates and government institutions on Nigeria's electoral preparedness and would maintain its presence during the election to encourage positive democratic conduct.
Simao also noted that credible elections in Nigeria would serve as an inspiration to other countries in the region.
Similarly, Vowles reaffirmed the United Kingdom's commitment to supporting Nigeria's democratic development, describing the 2027 general election as an important opportunity for the country to demonstrate the strength of its democratic institutions.
The British envoy said Nigeria's electoral process had implications beyond its borders, given the country's population, political influence and strategic importance to West Africa and the international community.
He expressed interest in understanding INEC's operations, institutional capacity and preparations for the forthcoming elections, while acknowledging the complexities of conducting polls in a large and diverse country.
Amupitan assured both delegations that INEC remained independent, impartial and committed to delivering transparent, free, fair, credible and inclusive elections in 2027.
He emphasised that the credibility of Nigeria's democracy was essential not only to its citizens but also to peace, stability and economic development across the African continent.