By Sandra Kenneth
Festus Okoye, a former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has cautioned that Nigeria’s 2027 general elections face significant credibility and logistical threats driven by evolving electoral malpractices and structural failures.
Speaking during a virtual masterclass organized by the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters (Lagos Chapter), Okoye highlighted key risks, including sophisticated vote-buying schemes, compromised party primaries, national security limitations, widespread voter displacement, and eroding trust in the judiciary.
Key Concerns Raised:
Regenerated Vote-Buying: Okoye warned that vote-buying has shifted from covert, pre-election cash distributions disguised as “empowerment” to open, tally-based transactions executed directly at polling units. He noted that this evolving model presents new challenges for media coverage and election monitoring.
Flawed Party Primaries & Defections: Compromised internal party elections—often heavily influenced by sitting governors—are driving candidates to switch parties, further blurring the lines between political platforms.
Security & Logistics in Displaced Areas: Cautioning against using isolated off-cycle elections to gauge national readiness, Okoye emphasized that securing a nationwide poll requires far more resources. Additionally, prolonged insecurity has depopulated entire communities, raising unresolved logistical questions about polling unit locations and vote collation for displaced citizens.
Judicial Mandate Conferment: Okoye raised alarm over the growing public perception that courts, rather than voters, ultimately determine election winners, warning that this trend severely undermines public confidence in the democratic process.
Okoye urged journalists and media organizations to deepen their investigative capacities and legal understanding to properly scrutinize political actors, security agencies, and election managers ahead of the 2027 cycle.
