By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) have begun talks on a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening citizenship awareness, voter education and democratic participation ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
The initiative emerged on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, to the INEC Headquarters in Abuja, where both institutions pledged to work together to tackle voter apathy, misinformation and vote-buying.
Speaking during the meeting, INEC Chairman, Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, described the partnership as a constitutional necessity, stressing that credible elections cannot be achieved through technology alone without an informed and engaged electorate.
He called for a nationwide joint campaign against electoral malpractice, declaring:
“Let us build joint campaigns against the toxic menace of vote-buying and misinformation, which threaten to contaminate our democracy.”
According to the INEC Chairman, while the Commission has invested heavily in electoral technologies such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), their effectiveness depends largely on citizens understanding and trusting the electoral process.
Professor Amupitan noted that recent elections in the Federal Capital Territory and Ekiti State demonstrated significant operational improvements, including early opening of polling units, successful biometric accreditation and rapid electronic transmission of results.
However, he expressed concern over persistent voter apathy and widespread public misunderstanding of electoral procedures, saying the experience underscored the urgent need for sustained voter education before the 2027 elections.
He proposed closer collaboration between INEC’s Voter Education Department and NOA’s nationwide communication network to deliver grassroots civic education across the country.
The INEC Chairman also pledged the Commission’s full support for the partnership, promising to share resources, technical expertise and institutional data to ensure the success of the initiative.
Earlier, NOA Director-General Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to promoting democratic values and civic responsibility, describing democracy as the foundation of Nigeria’s stability.
He noted that the 2023 general elections exposed significant gaps in civic knowledge, particularly among young first-time voters, making continuous voter education imperative.
Issa-Onilu said NOA’s nationwide structure—including offices in all 774 local government areas, 36 state offices and six zonal directorates—positions the Agency to effectively drive grassroots voter education and public enlightenment.
He advocated for a formal collaboration between both agencies that would extend beyond election periods, insisting that civic education should be a continuous national exercise rather than a seasonal campaign.
The NOA boss also stressed the need to educate Nigerians not only on voting procedures but also on post-election processes, including election petitions and judicial outcomes, to reduce misinformation and strengthen public confidence in democratic institutions.
Both agencies expressed optimism that the proposed partnership would enhance voter participation, promote responsible citizenship and strengthen Nigeria’s democratic culture ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
