The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), ActionAid Nigeria, Abuja School and Political Thoughts, and MOTION and Partners have called on individual and instititional stakeholders at various levels to ensure that the credibility of the 2027 elections is ‘secured before, during and after the election day,’ stating that ‘votes must count’ while ‘mandates must be protected’ in line with the law, in order to strengthen democracy and national development.
The Centre made the call on Wednesday during a press briefing under the theme, ‘2027 General Elections: Centre LSD Calls For Urgent Action To Safeguard Electoral Credibility, Restore Public Trust and Protect The People’s Mandate.’
The Centre warns that credible elections must be guaranteed throughout the electoral cycle, not merely by promises made by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
‘The 2027 General Elections must represent an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions and restore citizens’ confidence in the electoral process,’ the Centre stated, noting that ‘Nigeria cannot afford another electoral cycle in which questions about transparency, technology, security, political manipulation and accountability overshadow the will of the electorate.’
Stating its principle, the Cenre said: ‘Centre LSD believes that credible elections are possible when institutions discharge their responsibilities transparently, political actors respect democratic rules, security agencies remain professional and citizens actively defend their democratic rights.’
‘We therefore call on all stakeholders to treat electoral credibility as a national responsibility that requires urgent action, sustained commitment and measurable accountability.’
The centre and partners said: ‘We are deeply concerned about the emerging challenges and unresolved issues surrounding the credibility of Nigeria’s forthcoming 2027 General Elections.’
‘While acknowledging the ongoing preparations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the various efforts towards improving the electoral process, Centre LSD believes that Nigeria must move beyond routine assurances of preparedness to demonstrate, through concrete actions, that the conditions for free, fair, transparent, inclusive and credible elections are being deliberately established.’
With the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for 16 January 2027 and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections for 6 February 2027, the country is entering a critical phase of the electoral cycle. The stakes are exceptionally high. The credibility of these elections will have far-reaching implications for democratic legitimacy, national cohesion, political stability, public confidence in government and the future of Nigeria’s democratic development.
The Centre disclosed that its concern is informed by lessons from previous election cycles, particularly the 2023 General Elections, as well as developments in the current political environment.
According to the Centre, the unresolved questions surrounding electronic transmission of results, the integrity of the voters’ register, public confidence in INEC, political party conduct, campaign financing, insecurity, electoral violence and the increasing use of digital platforms to manipulate public opinion require urgent and coordinated attention.
Centre LSD explained that its position is that the credibility of the 2027 elections must not be left to chance, political assurances or last-minute interventions. It must be deliberately secured through institutional accountability, transparent processes, enforceable rules and active citizen participation.
