2027: How to stop election results manipulation — Agbakoba
Political Parties Urged to Independently Verify Election Results Ahead of 2027 Polls
By Kayode Matthew
As Nigeria prepares for its next general elections in January 2027, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reiterated its position on the authority to officially declare election results, urging media outlets and political parties not to release independently compiled results. This warning comes amid mounting dissatisfaction over the handling of the 2023 elections, particularly regarding the commission’s failure to effectively utilize electronic transmission for results.
Before the 2023 elections, INEC claimed that the electronic transmission of results would be transformational. However, technical glitches marred the process, leaving many Nigerians questioning the integrity of the results. Three months before the upcoming election, election campaigns have yet to fully gain momentum, with political parties seemingly hesitant to engage the electorate.
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 election, previously contested under the Labour Party in 2023, claiming that his victory was undermined by INEC’s abrupt change from electronic to manual results collation. In a bid to avoid a repeat occurrence, some opposition parties have announced plans to establish independent systems to verify results from polling units, collating data in real-time alongside INEC’s official processes.
During the 24th All Nigeria Editors Conference in Enugu on September 24, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan emphasized that the commission holds exclusive authority to declare election results, cautioning against the publication of unofficial results by media organizations or politically affiliated groups. He reiterated this stance at a national stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on October 6, asserting that only the commission is authorized to make formal announcements of electoral outcomes.
In response to INEC’s warning, former Nigerian Bar Association President Dr. Olisa Agbakoba argued that while the commission retains the right to announce final results, this should not impede the public or press from reporting preliminary results already made by electoral officials at polling units. Dr. Agbakoba highlighted previous legal precedents that support the media’s right to report results from polling units, reinforcing that transparency is vital for the electoral process.
He criticized political parties for failing to adequately monitor results during elections, suggesting that all parties should have representatives at polling units to validate and compile results. Dr. Agbakoba stressed that parties lacking the infrastructure to verify their results should reconsider their candidacies.
There are concerns that the inability of smaller political parties to recruit sufficient polling agents may hinder their ability to contest results declared by INEC. Agbakoba asserted that parties must be equipped to safeguard their electoral mandates, stating, “If you do not have the structure, then why are you on the ballot?”
As the 2027 elections approach, the call for independent verification of election results may signify a shift towards greater accountability in Nigeria’s electoral processes. The growing dialogue surrounding INEC’s responsibilities and the rights of citizens and the media will likely play a crucial role in shaping the upcoming electoral landscape.
