Follow Us on Google
A Monitoring and Evaluation expert, Prince Vincent Ejikeme Iheke, has urged Nigerians to actively participate in the 2027 general elections, despite growing concerns over recent political developments and past electoral challenges.
Iheke’s call comes amid reports of widespread defections by governors and lawmakers to major political parties, as well as lingering distrust following technical glitches recorded during the 2023 elections.
Speaking on the state of Nigeria’s electoral system, Iheke dismissed claims that votes do not count, noting that politicians’ heavy investment in influencers and campaign strategies reflects the importance of voters’ decisions.
He also addressed concerns over political defections, stressing that electoral victory in a credible system depends on candidates’ track records and public appeal rather than the number of high-profile defectors in a party.
On the amended 2026 Electoral Act, Iheke highlighted provisions allowing manual collation of results using Form EC8A in cases of network failure, urging voters and party agents to document results at polling units to ensure transparency.
He further pointed to stricter penalties introduced for electoral offences, including fines and prison terms for officials found guilty of result manipulation, as measures aimed at improving accountability in the system.
Condemning vote buying, Iheke described it as a threat to democracy, warning that the law now prescribes penalties for both buyers and sellers of votes and voter cards.
He encouraged stakeholders, including traditional rulers, civil society groups and government agencies, to intensify voter education and discourage electoral malpractice.
Iheke maintained that increased accountability measures should restore public confidence, urging Nigerians to register, collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and participate fully in the 2027 elections.
