Key Points
- GoNigeria reveals that fewer than half of Nigerians trust INEC, with distrust highest among youth and in the South-South and South-East.
- The group identifies four pillars critical to Nigeria’s democracy: electoral reform, judicial reform, freedom of speech, and security.
- GoNigeria commits to voter registration drives, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy to close the gap between electoral law and implementation.
Half of Nigerians distrust INEC ahead of 2027 polls, GoNigeria warns electoral reform is unavoidable
Civil society group GoNigeria warned Tuesday that credible electoral reform remains urgent and unavoidable ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, citing survey data showing that fewer than half of Nigerians have confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission.
In a statement signed by convener Atedo Peterside and 24 others, GoNigeria said distrust in INEC runs deepest in the South-South and South-East regions.
Among young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 35, nearly three-quarters reported a lack of trust in the system’s ability to deliver free and fair elections.
“These figures signal a serious democratic fault line beyond reputational concerns,” the group said.
Four pillars and a fragile democratic foundation
GoNigeria identified four conditions it described as critical guardrails for a durable and productive democracy: electoral reform, judicial reform, freedom of speech, and the security of life and property.
The group said electoral reform is the most foundational of the four, arguing that credible elections determine whether power is accepted as legitimate and whether governance remains effective.
The statement traced the arc of Nigeria’s electoral progress, pointing to 2015 as a benchmark year and noting that public trust declined sharply following the 2019 and 2023 elections.
The group attributed the regression to uneven use of technology, weak enforcement, and an increased tendency to resolve electoral disputes through the courts rather than at the polls.
“Where elections are credible, authority is strengthened. Where they are not, the costs are profound — increased violence, unaccountable governments, and compromised institutions,” the statement read.
Technology as accountability tool, not a guarantee
GoNigeria acknowledged progress made through digital tools including biometric voter registration, Permanent Voters’ Cards, and electronic accreditation, describing them as institutional responses to public demand for a check on manipulation.
However, the group said inconsistent deployment of these tools had undermined their purpose.
The group said concerns about electoral officers using administrative discretion to permit manual transmission of results in cases of network failure could be addressed through clear operational guidelines and stronger safeguards.
It called for transparent procedures to ensure technology continues to serve as an accountability mechanism rather than a loophole.
Group sets agenda following Electoral Act 2026
Following the passage of the Electoral Act 2026, GoNigeria said attention must now shift to implementation and rebuilding public confidence in the process.
The group outlined a practical agenda that includes supporting voter registration and participation, encouraging public debate on electoral transparency, engaging institutions on closing the gap between law and implementation, and amplifying citizen demand for verifiable elections.
“GoNigeria is committed to ensuring, through advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and informed analysis, that elections in Nigeria are decided by the people and trusted by the people,” the statement concluded.
