RismadarVoice Reporters
August 19, 2026
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has intensified preparations for the 2027 General Election with a renewed commitment to ensuring that every eligible Nigerian has the opportunity to participate in the electoral process.
The commitment was reaffirmed at a strategic joint implementation meeting of the Commission’s Voter Education and Publicity Department and Gender and Inclusivity Department, which brought together Heads of Voter Education from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The meeting focused on strengthening coordination and developing effective voter education and public engagement strategies ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking at the meeting, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Mallam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the Commission’s immediate priority was to develop communication strategies capable of encouraging Nigerians of voting age to participate actively in the elections.
Haruna said voter education must clearly address why citizens should vote, who should be targeted, what information should be provided and the most effective channels for delivering such messages.
He identified women, youths, the media, civil society organisations and persons with disabilities, among others, as key stakeholder groups requiring targeted engagement.
The National Commissioner stressed that information released by INEC must be accurate, timely, transparent and consistent, while officers responsible for voter education must continuously improve their communication skills and knowledge of electoral laws and procedures.
He also emphasised the need for effective monitoring and evaluation of voter education programmes to determine their impact.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr Adedayo Oketola, said voter education and inclusivity departments constituted the “human face and voice” of the Commission.
Representing the INEC Chairman, Oketola said effective communication was essential to building public trust, particularly in an environment increasingly challenged by misinformation, disinformation and toxic political rhetoric.
He called for a shift from publicity focused mainly on announcements to proactive and sustained civic education, particularly through mainstream and digital media.
Oketola assured the departments of the support of the Office of the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser in expanding the reach of their programmes and ensuring consistent public communication.
The Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, said the meeting would strengthen the capacity of field officers to implement approved voter education programmes across the country.
Also speaking, the Director of Gender and Inclusivity, Mrs Lakunuya Dorothy Bello, stressed the need for deliberate measures to ensure that women, youths, persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups are not excluded from the electoral process.
She noted that barriers such as limited awareness, accessibility challenges and sociocultural constraints must be addressed before election day.
The meeting, which followed the recent off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States, underscored INEC’s determination to make voter education, effective communication and electoral inclusion central to preparations for the 2027 General Election.
The Commission’s objective, according to the participants, is clear: no eligible Nigerian should be left behind.
