2027: INEC pledges transparent polls, says every vote will count

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a transparent and credible electoral process for the 2027 general elections. The commission stated that every vote will be counted and emphasized its ongoing efforts to improve electoral procedures and utilize technology to bolster transparency and credibility.

“

making every vote count

Magdalyn Aku, Assistant Director of Voter Education and Planning at INEC, highlighted at a recent roundtable that "making every vote count" is central to the commission's mandate. She stated, "For INEC, making your vote count is not just a slogan; it is the bedrock of our democracy, and we always try to ensure that we put in the right processes, the right tools to ensure that every individual’s vote counts."

Aku stressed INEC's neutrality in the electoral process, asserting that the commission's primary focus is on safeguarding the rights of Nigerian voters, not on determining election winners. "Our focus is on the Nigerian voter. We do not care about the person who wins or loses the election; it is on the Nigerian voter, and that’s why we’re always placing premium on the voter to recognise the fact that you are the kingmaker," she explained.

“

For INEC, making your vote count is not just a slogan; it is the bedrock of our democracy, and we always try to ensure that we put in the right processes, the right tools to ensure that every individual’s vote counts.

The commission detailed its continuous improvements, citing the transition from Smart Card Readers to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the deployment of the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) for real-time results transmission. Aku added that election results are first displayed at polling units before electronic upload to IReV, enhancing transparency. INEC also committed to inclusivity, with policies targeting persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

“

Our focus is on the Nigerian voter. We do not care about the person who wins or loses the election; it is on the Nigerian voter, and that’s why we’re always placing premium on the voter to recognise the fact that you are the kingmaker

Urging Nigerians to reject vote-buying, Aku asked, "If your vote doesn’t matter, why does somebody want to buy it? And why do you want to sell your vote?" She concluded, "Your vote is your voice. Do not sit on the fence. INEC has put all the systems in place. All of us, it’s an all-hands-on-deck thing. All of us must work together to ensure that the systems put in place work effectively."

“

INEC continues to up their game, improve its processes. You remember when we started with the Smart Card Readers, right? And now we have moved to the BVAS. We keep improving on our processes.