Nigerians must study electoral laws, defend 2027 votes

DDM News

A leading civic advocacy group, the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), has called on Nigerians to familiarise themselves with electoral laws and reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that this charge was issued during a Citizens’ Town Hall Meeting on Electoral Reform held in Owerri, Imo State, on Thursday, July 24, 2025.

The event, supported by the MacArthur Foundation, brought together stakeholders from civil society groups, political parties, traditional institutions, security agencies, and the media.

In his keynote address, PAACA’s Executive Director, Ezenwa Nwagwu, emphasized that a major obstacle to credible elections in Nigeria is widespread ignorance of electoral laws and processes.

He warned that voter illiteracy opens the door for manipulation, misinformation, and political exploitation.

“We must stop treating civic knowledge as optional,” Nwagwu stated.

“People can’t defend their votes if they don’t understand the rules or how results are transmitted.”

He added that while digital tools like the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal are intended to increase transparency, their potential is limited if citizens and political stakeholders don’t understand how they work.

He also criticised political parties for sending untrained or disengaged polling agents to election duty, many of whom later abandon their posts and shift blame to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for lapses.

The town hall participants agreed that Nigeria’s democratic process can only be strengthened through widespread, consistent voter education.

The Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Imo State, Oparaugo Stellamaris Chimezirim, echoed this sentiment.

She noted that civic engagement, equity, and justice must remain central pillars of Nigeria’s democratic journey.

Representatives from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigeria Police Force, and various civil society organisations also highlighted the need for coordinated efforts to ensure peaceful and credible elections.

Participants made several recommendations to bolster the integrity of the 2027 elections.

These included scaling up grassroots civic education, particularly in rural communities, and intensifying public awareness campaigns on how digital election tools like BVAS and IReV work.

They also urged INEC to provide stronger legal backing for the electronic transmission of results to boost public trust and transparency.

Further proposals focused on increasing accessibility for persons with disabilities and voters in remote areas, as well as ensuring neutrality among polling officials.

Calls were also made for stronger collaboration between election stakeholders, especially civil society, security agencies, and traditional rulers.

According to PAACA, the town hall is part of a larger national campaign to enhance electoral accountability, civic responsibility, and democratic resilience ahead of the 2027 polls.

As Nigeria gears up for its next general elections, the message from Owerri was clear, democracy must be defended with knowledge, vigilance, and sustained civic action.

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