The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that no amount of vote buying would affect a free and fair election in the country, assuring that votes would count in 2027 general elections.

The commission promised to do all within its powers for the 2027 general elections to reflect the wishes of residents of Kwara state.

Head, Voters Education and Publicity, Kwara State INEC, Dr. Adejumo Peter, on Wednesday hinted these in Ilorin, Kwara State, at a seminar organised by the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Peter mocked some politicians stockpiling Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs), saying: “they are still living in the past.

“INEC has done a lot that people cannot use others PVC to vote in an election. That is why politicians have resorted to vote-buying.

“Many of the politicians are still living in the past as stocking and charting away PVCs cannot ensure electoral victory,” he added.

According to him: “INEC in Kwara will follow the rules and procedures as laid down by our commission. We will ensure that the elections are done on one man, one vote basis. At the end of the exercise the outcome of the elections will reflect the will of the people.

“I urge politicians to play according to the rules. They should campaign and tell the electorates their manifestos. They should shun violence before, during and after the elections.

“Let us do the elections peacefully like sport. They should accept the outcome of the elections as it is,” he admonished.

Speaking on the topic: ‘Dissecting the amended Electoral Act 2026: Innovations, and implications for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections,’ the commission’s Head, Legal Unit, Atata Abdulfatai, said the amended Electoral Act 2026 “marks a transformative moment in the evolution of Nigeria’s electoral framework.”

He added that: “as Nigeria approaches 2027 general elections, the Act will serve as both a test and a tool for deepening the country’s democratic governance.”

Continuing, Abdulfatai said that the Act: “introduces commendable reforms to enhance transparency, strengthen internal party democracy and leveraging technology.

“At the same time, it raises critical legal and practical questions, particularly in relation to constitutional consistency, the enforceability of campaign finance limits, the ouster of judicial jurisdiction party affair and the narrowing of grounds for election petitions.

“Ultimately, the success of these innovations will depend not only on their legislative design, but also on effective implementation, institutional capacity and judicial interpretation,” he explained.