2027 GENERAL POLLS: INEC on the cross as credibility concern mounts

*Stakeholders worry about glitch, partisanship, data breaches

BY TOSIN ADAMS

As Nigeria builds momentum toward the 2027 general elections, the political atmosphere is charged with a familiar and deep-seated anxiety. For a democracy to thrive, the independence and competence of its umpire must be beyond reproach. However, Nigerian stakeholders—including civil society organisations, opposition parties, and the electorate—are voicing profound concerns regarding the credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This looming crisis of confidence is fueled by two primary vulnerabilities: the recurring vulnerabilities in the commission’s digital infrastructure and the perceived partisan leanings of its leadership.

The Daily Monitor on Sunday notes that technical integrity has become a primary battleground for electoral credibility. The promise of technological innovations like the Bimodal Voter Authentication System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) was supposed to insulate the process from manual manipulation. Instead, recent election cycles have been marred by operational failures, system bypasses, and what stakeholders view as significant data and transmission breaches. When the electronic transmission of results falters or encounters “glitches” at critical moments, it leaves a data security vacuum that stakeholders fear is actively exploited. Ahead of 2027, civil society groups argue that without robust, independently audited cyber-security firewalls and ironclad protocols for real-time data transmission, the digital infrastructure will remain an Achilles’ heel, vulnerable to manipulation and hacking that can alter the will of millions.

Compounding these technological anxieties is the profound crisis of confidence surrounding the perceived partisanship of INEC’s leadership. For a long time, stakeholders have expressed dismay over the executive appointment process of top electoral officials, arguing that it compromises the commission’s institutional neutrality. Critics point out that when an INEC Chairman or Resident Electoral Commissioners are perceived as heavily aligned with, or sympathetic to, the ruling political elite, public trust erodes entirely.  Recent controversies, including administrative decisions during internal opposition party disputes and lingering allegations of partisan social media engagement, have only deepened this skepticism. The consensus among neutral observers is clear: when the leadership of an electoral umpire is viewed through a lens of political bias, even legally sound administrative decisions are treated with immense suspicion, driving high levels of voter cynicism.  Furthermore, this combined deficit of technical reliability and institutional neutrality risks triggering widespread voter apathy in 2027.

Stakeholders warn that if the electorate believes that data systems can be breached with impunity and that the leadership is predisposed to a predetermined outcome, public motivation to participate will collapse. The resulting slide toward a de facto uncompetitive political landscape threatens the very legitimacy of Nigeria’s democratic trajectory. Ultimately, navigating the road to 2027 requires more than routine administrative preparations. To avert a deeply compromised election, Nigerian stakeholders are demanding an urgent institutional overhaul. This must include an aggressive fortification of INEC’s data infrastructure to guarantee absolute transparency, alongside a reformed, transparent appointment process that ensures individuals of unquestionable, non-partisan integrity lead the commission. Only by addressing these foundational threats can INEC restore public trust and deliver an election that truly reflects the choices of the Nigerian people.

Although INEC has consistently assured Nigerians of her efforts at deepening electoral integrity, such promises are being taken with skepticism. During the latest data breach incident involving Lere Olayinka, aide to Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike and Nollywood actor, Emeka Ike, the Commission had promptly offered a response, that, “The Commission takes this allegation seriously and has immediately commenced a thorough investigation to establish the facts surrounding the incident.

“As part of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise nationwide, authorised INEC Registration Officers were granted controlled access to specific components of the CVR system to enable them register new applicants, process requests for transfer of registration and update voter records where necessary. Such access is restricted to official duties only and is withdrawn at the conclusion of the exercise.

“The audit trail from the preliminary investigation has enabled the Commission to identify the user account through which the information was accessed.  “Accordingly, relevant personnel have been questioned, and all units connected with the incident are cooperating fully with the investigation.

“Preliminary findings from the Commission’s audit trail so far, however, indicate that there was no external breach of the CVR database, no hacking incident, and no unauthorised external access to the Commission’s ICT infrastructure. Rather, the information in question was accessed through valid user credentials assigned to personnel participating in the ongoing CVR exercise but released without authority.”

Will this be swept under the carpet? INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, said during a live television interview that INEC would act after the police and DSS conclude findings on the raging breach.

Nigerians are waiting to see how this pans out after the shoddy handling of the earlier incident alleging that the Chairman of the Commission was a member of the ruling APC.