Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, has urged Nigerians not to stay away from the polls in the 2027 general elections. He assured citizens that their votes will count and promised that INEC is committed to delivering credible elections.
Amupitan spoke in Abuja at the unveiling of the 2026 INEC Voter Education Manual and a youth friendly civic and voter education manual, produced in partnership with Kimpact Development Initiative and supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. He said the strength of any democracy depends less on technology and more on the quality of citizens’ participation.
Represented by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, he warned that democracy suffers when many citizens are indifferent. He noted that recent elections have shown a worrying pattern of low turnout, with data from the 2023 general elections and subsequent off cycle polls revealing a participation gap that Nigeria cannot afford to ignore.
He explained that when people avoid voting, they effectively hand their power to a small minority. According to him, voter apathy often grows from misinformation, doubt and the belief that votes do not matter, but the new Electoral Act 2026 has further strengthened the protection of ballots through improved electronic transmission and stricter accountability rules.
Amupitan said laws alone are not enough to defeat apathy. He stressed that consistent civic and voter education, backed by strong public awareness campaigns, is the real antidote and that the new manuals are designed to simplify complex electoral provisions and make them easy for ordinary citizens to understand.
He described the idea that 70 percent of citizens stay at home while 30 percent decide the future for everyone as unacceptable. He said INEC wants to reverse this trend by giving Nigerians the information they need to resist vote buying and other attempts to undermine their rights.
The INEC chairman highlighted global research showing a clear link between structured civic education and higher voter turnout. He said people who understand how and why elections work are more likely to vote and to trust the process, especially when they know about the new safeguards in the Electoral Act 2026.
He commended Kimpact Development Initiative for helping to align the manuals with the new law. He explained that the materials break down legal and technical language into clear, engaging content, removing barriers that often discourage citizens, especially young people, from taking part in elections.
Amupitan also announced the launch of a Civic and Voter Education Community Development Service initiative with the National Youth Service Corps and the National Orientation Agency. He said NYSC members will be deployed as frontline educators across communities, using peer to peer storytelling, digital tools and local outreach to spread accurate information about elections.
He noted that young Nigerians now make up the majority of registered voters and consume most of their information through digital and visual platforms. INEC, he said, has adapted its voter education tools to meet youths where they are, moving from preaching at them to partnering with them as co drivers of democratic progress.
Amupitan declared that INEC is ready for the 2027 elections but needs the support of all stakeholders. He called on the media to use the manuals in their reporting and urged civil society groups to adopt them as a guide for advocacy and voter education across the country.
He said the goal is not just to prepare for an election but to prepare the people, insisting that an informed voter is the greatest guardian of the Republic. He described the launch as a decisive step to ensure that Nigerians are not just participants but informed stakeholders in the democratic journey.
In his remarks, Mohammed Haruna said many citizens now take the right to vote for granted without appreciating the long struggle it took to achieve universal suffrage in countries like the United Kingdom, the United States and Nigeria. He noted that Nigeria has recorded steadily declining turnout since 1999, dropping from over 60 percent in 2003 to under 30 percent in the 2023 general election.
He said this decline in participation motivated Kimpact Development Initiative to work with INEC on a comprehensive voter education manual that not only encourages people to vote but also teaches them how to exercise their rights properly.
Haruna explained that two documents have been produced. The first is the updated 2026 National Voter Education Manual, revised to reflect changes in electoral law and new technologies introduced by INEC. The second is a slimmer, youth friendly Civic and Voter Education Manual designed especially for use by NYSC members in their community service.
He said the aim is to train Corps members to spread the “gospel of democracy” in schools, markets, neighbourhoods and faith communities, helping to stimulate interest in voting from a young age.
Team Lead of Kimpact Development Initiative, Bukola Idowu, described the unveiling as a significant step in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy by building an informed and engaged citizenry. He said the updated manual responds to new legal frameworks, changing patterns of citizen engagement and the growing role of technology in elections.
Idowu emphasised that young people are central to the project, not just as voters but as educators, advocates and agents of change. He said the youth friendly manual will help close gaps in voter awareness, trust and participation, and that its impact will be measured by how widely it is used and how deeply it resonates with citizens across Nigeria.
He thanked INEC, the National Orientation Agency, NYSC and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for their collaboration and support. He urged all stakeholders to ensure the manuals become living tools that inform, inspire and empower Nigerians to take active and responsible roles in shaping their democracy.
About the author
Christian killings: Nigeria hiring lobbyists to mask insecurity — Ted Cruz
Cruz said Nigeria’s engagement of a Washington-based lobbying firm was a public relations move meant to soften criticism from the United States rather than confront the insecurity crisis at home. He said Nigerian officials were trying to influence opinion in Washington while failing to address allegations of attacks on Christians and other vulnerable groups. The senator has been at the forefront of calls for sanctions and accountability over alleged religious persecution in Nigeria. His proposed Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 seeks to hold officials responsible for what he describes as the enabling of mass violence against Christians. Reports also said Nigeria signed a $9 million lobbying contract with DCI Group, a US public affairs firm, after being designated a country of particular concern by President Donald Trump. The controversy adds to growing diplomatic tension between Abuja and some […]
Three Ansaru terrorists linked to Oriire abductions get life jail
Justice Salim Ibrahim delivered the ruling against Abdulrazak Umar, alias Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, alias Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, alias Abu Itisar, after they pleaded guilty to several terrorism-related charges brought by the Department of State Services (DSS). The defendants were accused of belonging to Darul Salam, a proscribed group linked to Ansaru, and of working with bandits who abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire. They faced a 10‑count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information and incitement through extremist religious ideology. Court documents showed that Umar, in particular, admitted guilt to counts involving training and instructing terror group members via messaging platforms and pushing radical ideology. Justice Ibrahim invoked the maximum penalty of life imprisonment on key counts after the three men admitted being part of the network behind the high‑profile Oriire school kidnappings. […]
Iran army says it attacked US bases in Bahrain, Jordan
The Iranian military said the operation targeted several US facilities in the Gulf and the Middle East, marking another escalation in the ongoing conflict between Tehran and Washington. Earlier reports had also said Iranian forces struck US-linked targets in Kuwait and other neighbouring states as part of a wider retaliation campaign.zeenews Iran has repeatedly argued that its attacks are a response to US strikes on its territory and a warning against further escalation. Bahrain and Jordan have previously reported intercepting projectiles fired toward their territory, with no immediate casualties confirmed in those earlier incidents. The renewed claims underline how the confrontation is spreading across the Gulf, putting pressure on regional security and raising fears of a broader war.
US lawmaker seeks Nnamdi Kanu’s release
James, who represents Michigan’s 10th Congressional District, urged the Nigerian government to free Kanu and respect his fundamental rights. He described Kanu’s continued detention as a violation of international human rights norms and cited previous United Nations opinions on the case. “The detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a clear example. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention called for his unconditional release, yet he remains in solitary confinement,” the lawmaker said during his remarks on Capitol Hill. He also accused the Nigerian authorities of enabling the “slaughter of innocent Nigerians” and called on Washington to take a firmer stand on abuses. Kanu, leader of IPOB, has been held in Nigeria on terrorism-related and secessionist charges, despite repeated legal and political appeals for his release. In November 2025, 44 federal lawmakers in Nigeria wrote President Bola Tinubu, asking him to […]
Enugu Air aircraft suffers runway excursion at Benin Airport
The incident involved one of Enugu Air’s Embraer regional jets, which veered off the runway after touchdown and came to rest in a grassy area beside the runway. The airline confirmed that the aircraft had been secured and that aviation authorities had been notified in line with standard procedure. Enugu Air said all 63 passengers and five crew members were safely evacuated, with no injuries or casualties recorded. The carrier added that it was assessing the aircraft and the circumstances surrounding the incident, while warning that some flight schedules could be adjusted temporarily. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau is expected to probe the incident, while the NCAA will carry out regulatory oversight to determine what caused the runway excursion. The temporary closure of the runway also disrupted operations at Benin Airport
Court sentences three to life imprisonment over Orire school kidnapping
Justice Salim Ibrahim convicted the defendants, Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani, after they pleaded guilty to some of the charges brought against them by the Federal Government. The three men were arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining.vanguardngr+2 Prosecutors said the convicts were linked to the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire between January and May 2026 and were accused of concealing information about the masterminds of the attack. They were also alleged to belong to Darul Salam, an affiliate of the proscribed terrorist group Ansaru.dailypost+3 The incident happened on May 15, when gunmen attacked Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Esiele and Yawota communities, abducting 46 people in total. Security forces later rescued 44 of the victims and […]
Related
Christian killings: Nigeria hiring lobbyists to mask insecurity — Ted Cruz
Cruz said Nigeria’s engagement of a Washington-based lobbying firm was a public relations move meant to soften criticism from the United States rather than confront the insecurity crisis at home. He said Nigerian officials were trying to influence opinion in Washington while failing to address allegations of attacks on Christians and other vulnerable groups. The senator has been at the forefront of calls for sanctions and accountability over alleged religious persecution in Nigeria. His proposed Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 seeks to hold officials responsible for what he describes as the enabling of mass violence against Christians. Reports also said Nigeria signed a $9 million lobbying contract with DCI Group, a US public affairs firm, after being designated a country of particular concern by President Donald Trump. The controversy adds to growing diplomatic tension between Abuja and some […]
Three Ansaru terrorists linked to Oriire abductions get life jail
Justice Salim Ibrahim delivered the ruling against Abdulrazak Umar, alias Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, alias Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, alias Abu Itisar, after they pleaded guilty to several terrorism-related charges brought by the Department of State Services (DSS). The defendants were accused of belonging to Darul Salam, a proscribed group linked to Ansaru, and of working with bandits who abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire. They faced a 10‑count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information and incitement through extremist religious ideology. Court documents showed that Umar, in particular, admitted guilt to counts involving training and instructing terror group members via messaging platforms and pushing radical ideology. Justice Ibrahim invoked the maximum penalty of life imprisonment on key counts after the three men admitted being part of the network behind the high‑profile Oriire school kidnappings. […]
US lawmaker seeks Nnamdi Kanu’s release
James, who represents Michigan’s 10th Congressional District, urged the Nigerian government to free Kanu and respect his fundamental rights. He described Kanu’s continued detention as a violation of international human rights norms and cited previous United Nations opinions on the case. “The detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a clear example. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention called for his unconditional release, yet he remains in solitary confinement,” the lawmaker said during his remarks on Capitol Hill. He also accused the Nigerian authorities of enabling the “slaughter of innocent Nigerians” and called on Washington to take a firmer stand on abuses. Kanu, leader of IPOB, has been held in Nigeria on terrorism-related and secessionist charges, despite repeated legal and political appeals for his release. In November 2025, 44 federal lawmakers in Nigeria wrote President Bola Tinubu, asking him to […]
Enugu Air aircraft suffers runway excursion at Benin Airport
The incident involved one of Enugu Air’s Embraer regional jets, which veered off the runway after touchdown and came to rest in a grassy area beside the runway. The airline confirmed that the aircraft had been secured and that aviation authorities had been notified in line with standard procedure. Enugu Air said all 63 passengers and five crew members were safely evacuated, with no injuries or casualties recorded. The carrier added that it was assessing the aircraft and the circumstances surrounding the incident, while warning that some flight schedules could be adjusted temporarily. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau is expected to probe the incident, while the NCAA will carry out regulatory oversight to determine what caused the runway excursion. The temporary closure of the runway also disrupted operations at Benin Airport
Court sentences three to life imprisonment over Orire school kidnapping
Justice Salim Ibrahim convicted the defendants, Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani, after they pleaded guilty to some of the charges brought against them by the Federal Government. The three men were arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining.vanguardngr+2 Prosecutors said the convicts were linked to the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire between January and May 2026 and were accused of concealing information about the masterminds of the attack. They were also alleged to belong to Darul Salam, an affiliate of the proscribed terrorist group Ansaru.dailypost+3 The incident happened on May 15, when gunmen attacked Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Esiele and Yawota communities, abducting 46 people in total. Security forces later rescued 44 of the victims and […]
Reps to ONSA: explain why you ignored alert on PFIPC
The House of Representatives has called on the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to explain why it allegedly ignored an alert over the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC). Lawmakers said the issue has raised serious concerns about how the alleged agency appeared in the federal budget despite questions over its legality and existence. The House wants ONSA and other relevant officials to clarify what actions were taken after the warning was reportedly raised. The development is part of a wider probe into the phantom PFIPC, which has drawn public criticism over budget transparency and verification procedures. Lawmakers say they are determined to get to the root of the matter and ensure that such irregularities do not recur in future appropriation exercises.