…stressing that citizen engagement remains vital to strengthening the electoral process Nigeria.
Awka, Nigeria — The iNews Times | The electoral process Nigeria debate took centre stage in Anambra as the National Orientation Agency (NOA) urged citizens not to lose faith in the country’s electoral system, insisting that there is still hope for credible elections ahead of 2027.
The Acting Director of NOA in Anambra State, Ifeoma Chijioke, made the call on Wednesday during a regional stakeholder conference on information narratives for the 2027 general elections in Southeast Nigeria, organised by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) with support from the National Democratic Institute (NDI).
Addressing participants, Chijioke advocated the reintroduction of accountability and stewardship forums where elected officials would regularly present their performance reports to constituents, noting that such platforms could help rebuild trust in the electoral process Nigeria.
She expressed concern that the absence of these accountability mechanisms has contributed significantly to declining public confidence in elections.
Chijioke also emphasised the need for proper transmission of election results, describing it as critical to restoring citizens’ trust, particularly as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
“People have lost confidence in the country’s elections. We need extra effort and commitment to make them believe in the system again,” she said.
She reiterated that one of NOA’s core mandates is to encourage voter participation through registration and collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
“We will not relent, despite the discouragements,” she added, stressing that citizen engagement remains vital to strengthening the electoral process Nigeria.
Also speaking, State Secretary of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Uzochukwu Eminent, criticised aspects of the Electoral Act, describing it as anti-people unless amended.
“They often say the minority will have their say while the majority will have their way. What kind of majority is that? Are we now practising mobocracy?” he queried.
Chairman of the International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC), Chris Azor, highlighted the importance of civic engagement in strengthening democratic institutions.
According to him, achieving a functional democracy requires collective effort from all stakeholders, including citizens, civil society organisations and government agencies.
He urged participants to promote unity and responsible information sharing, noting that every piece of verified information contributes to national development and supports a credible electoral process Nigeria.
Similarly, Director of ANCIPRO, Chuka Nnabuife, stressed the importance of combating misinformation.
He advised stakeholders to equip themselves with fact-checking tools before sharing information, especially on social media, to curb the spread of false narratives that could undermine elections.
On her part, Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Anambra Chapter, Amara Muojeke, raised concerns over provisions of the Electoral Act that she said lower the standard for leadership.
She argued that weak qualification benchmarks could hinder the emergence of competent leaders and complicate efforts to tackle institutional corruption.
Earlier, Director of CDD West Africa, Dauda Garuba, said the engagement was designed to assess the impact of information narratives on the 2025 Anambra governorship election.
Represented by CDD’s Election Consultant, Chibuike Mgbeahuruike, he noted that the initiative also aimed at identifying strategies to counter misinformation, disinformation and political polarisation.
“This meeting is aimed at strengthening electoral management, improving system resilience, fostering civic engagement and addressing electoral apathy,” he said.
He added that the 2025 Anambra governorship election witnessed challenges such as misinformation, disinformation and hate speech, which required deliberate efforts to address.
“As an organisation committed to democratic governance, CDD, with NDI’s support, monitored these trends to contribute to electoral integrity,” he added.
Stakeholders at the conference agreed that rebuilding trust in the electoral process Nigeria would require transparency, accountability, institutional reforms and sustained public engagement ahead of the 2027 elections.
