The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has called on Nigerians to reject voter apathy, vote buying and electoral violence, stressing that every eligible citizen has a responsibility to protect democracy and help shape the country’s future through peaceful participation in the 2027 general election.

Idris made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the flag-off of the National Orientation Agency’s (NOA) nationwide grassroots mobilisation campaign for the 2027 general election, held under the theme, “Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Future: Say No to Apathy, Vote Buying and Violence. Let’s Build a United Nigeria in 2027.”

“An election is more than a day at the polling unit. It is an opportunity for citizens to decide who represents them and to influence the direction of their communities and country. When eligible voters stay away, sell their votes or resort to violence, the entire democratic process suffers”, the Minister said.

Idris said the Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, was committed to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process.

“President Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2026 into law, introducing important reforms aimed at improving transparency, accountability and public confidence in the electoral process”, he said.

The Minister commended NOA Director-General Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu and the Agency’s staff for the initiative, urging them to sustain public engagement nationwide. He said the campaign’s success would depend on cooperation among government institutions, electoral authorities, security agencies, community leaders, and citizens.

The Director-General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the Agency would deploy its state directorates across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. He said the campaign would use local languages, radio programmes, community dialogues, drama, and digital platforms to address voter apathy and discourage vote buying and violence.

“The National Orientation Agency will take this campaign to communities across the country, engaging Nigerians in languages they understand to promote voter participation, discourage vote buying and electoral violence, and encourage the responsible sharing of verified information”, Issa-Onilu said.

Speaking at the event, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the Commission was committed to delivering a credible and inclusive 2027 general election, while urging Nigerians to work with electoral stakeholders to ensure peaceful participation.

“INEC is committed to conducting a free, fair, transparent, inclusive and credible 2027 General Election. Achieving this requires early preparation, strong collaboration among stakeholders and the active participation of Nigerians,” he said.

The NOA campaign aims to encourage Nigerians to participate responsibly in the 2027 general election, respect others’ choices, and reject actions that threaten lives, national unity, and democratic stability.