• CSOs warn against ethnic bias claims over INEC staff redeployments
• Olawepo-Hashim blames distrust, poverty, insecurity for voter apathy

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State met with security agencies, political parties and other stakeholders yesterday to strengthen collaboration and ensure peaceful conduct of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at the stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Ayobami Salami, said the meeting also aimed to mobilise public support for the effective implementation of the commission’s electoral plans.

Also, yesterday, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations Against Corruption (COCSOAC) cautioned against unverified allegations of ethnic favouritism and political interference in INEC staff redeployments. 

Relatedly, former presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has identified distrust in the electoral process, insecurity, logistical challenges, dissatisfaction with candidates and perceptions of predetermined outcomes as factors contributing to declining voter turnout in Nigeria. 

Salami said the commission was intensifying preparations in logistics, personnel deployment, election security, voter education and accessibility.

He said INEC had moved from strategic planning to active operational implementation, with nine of the 14 scheduled milestones for the 2027 elections already accomplished as of October 6.

On election security, he said INEC would continue working with relevant security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), led by the Nigeria Police Force, to identify and mitigate potential electoral risks.

COCSOAC urged Nigerians to exercise restraint and allow facts to guide public discourse ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The coalition, alongside more than 33 partner organisations, said allegations concerning the redeployment of some INEC officials should not be treated as established facts without independent verification and evidence of wrongdoing.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja yesterday, COCSOAC President Bola Ademola and its National Secretary, Abdulfatah Aliyu, said the commission had taken note of an online publication alleging questionable staff redeployments within the commission. 

The intervention comes amid controversy over reported personnel changes at INEC, following allegations by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that recent postings in strategic departments could favour officials from Lagos and other South-West states.
 
COCSOAC said it had not independently verified the reported changes or the alleged motives behind them, but warned against drawing premature conclusions about political interference or ethnic favouritism.

Olawepo-Hashim warned that widespread poverty is also undermining citizens’ capacity to participate meaningfully in democracy.
 
He raised the concerns while delivering a keynote at a colloquium marking the 60th birthday of civic advocate, Ezenwa Nwagwu, in Abuja.

The former presidential candidate, who was represented by the Vice-Chancellor of Baze University, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, said the presidential election turnout fell from 69.08 per cent in 2003 to 26.71 per cent in 2023, according to figures from International IDEA, as cited in his address.

He urged authorities to restore public confidence in elections by making them safer, more accessible, more transparent, and more meaningful, rather than blaming citizens for withdrawing from a process in which they had lost confidence.