t Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Akwa Ibom State, Obo Effanga, has cautioned citizens against engaging in vote buying, describing the practice as illegal and harmful to the credibility of elections.

Effanga gave the warning during a roundtable meeting with the Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community and the Association of Traditional Birth Attendants in Uyo. The session focused on assessing INEC’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections and strengthening electoral integrity.

He noted that as confidence grows that votes will count in 2027, some politicians may resort to inducement, urging voters to resist such tactics. Effanga also dismissed fears of bias, stressing that his duty is guided strictly by the constitution, the Electoral Act and established guidelines to ensure fairness for all parties and voters.

According to him, many challenges during elections stem from manipulations within party primaries, adding that INEC’s responsibility is to provide a level playing field while stakeholders must act responsibly.

Effanga further observed that Nigeria’s electoral process has improved significantly from the 1979 elections to the 2023 polls, largely due to the adoption of technology. He cited tools such as BVAS and the INEC Result Viewing Portal as innovations that have strengthened transparency.

On electronic voting, he explained that most democracies still rely partly on paper ballots and other hybrid systems, noting that fully remote voting from home is not widely practised globally.

Meanwhile, the convener of AKHRC, Clifford Thomas, commended the engagement and said it would help participants, especially women, make informed decisions during elections. He emphasised the importance of sustained voter education and early citizen participation to build public confidence ahead of the next electoral cycle.

INEC Commissioner Warns Against Vote Buying Ahead of 2027 Elections

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