Ahead of the 2027 General Elections, a coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has initiated talks with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to subject prospective candidates to rigorous scrutiny of their manifestoes and development agendas.

The initiative, championed by the Civil Society Organisation on Community Advancement and Humanitarian Empowerment Initiative (CSCHEI), led by Kunle Yusuff, is designed to assess candidates at all levels, from national to grassroots, on their plans for sustainable development, climate action, and climate financing, among other priorities.

Speaking at the inauguration of the National Committee for the Civil Society Organisations Summit 2026 in Abuja onyesterday, Yusuff said CSOs were evolving beyond their traditional role as election observers to actively engaging candidates, with the aim of enabling voters to make informed choices.

He stressed that the era of electing unqualified individuals into public offices must give way to a more accountable and performance-driven political culture.
Yusuff added that, for the first time, CSOs would collaborate to support INEC in voter education, advocacy, and the organisation of debates across all tiers of government.

He further explained that the proposed Civil Society Organisations Summit 2026 would harness the collective strength of CSOs and community-based organisations (CBOs) to drive national development.

IN another development, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), has stated that the commission was entering a more demanding electoral cycle following recent amendments to the Electoral Act 2026, which significantly shortened key timelines for election preparations.

Amupitan stated this yesterday in Lagos at the opening of a three-day capacity-building workshop for National Electoral Commissioners and senior management staff of the commission, organised in collaboration with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS).

In his remarks, Resident Representative of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Nigeria, Tobias Ruettershoff, said effective procurement systems would play a vital role in democratic governance, noting that the credibility of elections begins long before voting day through sound planning, logistics and administrative integrity.

He described the partnership with INEC as part of broader efforts to strengthen institutions and promote continuous professional development within Nigeria’s electoral management system.

The workshop is expected to equip electoral officials with strategies to manage procurement risks, enhance operational efficiency and improve institutional readiness as preparations for the 2027 general elections intensify.