By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin
ILORIN — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians that votes cast during the 2027 general elections will count, pledging to conduct credible polls that reflect the will of the electorate.
Head of Voter Education and Publicity, INEC Kwara State, Dr. Adejumo Peter, gave the assurance on Thursday in Ilorin during a seminar organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He said the commission would do everything within its constitutional mandate to ensure that the outcome of the elections reflected the wishes of the people.
Peter dismissed the practice by some politicians of allegedly stockpiling Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), describing it as outdated and ineffective.
“INEC has introduced measures that make it impossible for anyone to use another person’s PVC to vote. That is why politicians have resorted to vote-buying.
“Many politicians are still living in the past because stockpiling or carting away PVCs cannot guarantee electoral victory,” he said.
He reiterated INEC’s commitment to conducting elections based on the principle of “one person, one vote.”
“INEC in Kwara will follow the rules and procedures laid down by the commission. We will ensure that elections are conducted on the basis of one person, one vote.
“At the end of the exercise, the outcome of the elections will reflect the will of the people,” he said.
Peter also urged politicians to conduct their campaigns peacefully and in accordance with the law, advising them to focus on presenting their manifestoes rather than resorting to violence.
“I urge politicians to play by the rules. They should campaign and present their manifestoes to the electorate. They should shun violence before, during and after the elections.
“Let us conduct elections peacefully, like sportsmanship. They should also accept the outcome of the elections,” he added.
Speaking on the theme, “Dissecting the Amended Electoral Act 2026: Innovations and Implications for Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections,” the Head of INEC’s Legal Unit in Kwara State, Atata Abdulfatai, described the amended Electoral Act as a major milestone in Nigeria’s electoral evolution.
According to him, the legislation introduces reforms aimed at improving transparency, strengthening internal party democracy and expanding the use of technology in the electoral process.
He, however, noted that the law also raises legal and practical issues relating to constitutional consistency, enforcement of campaign finance limits, judicial jurisdiction over party affairs and the grounds for election petitions.
“The success of these innovations will depend not only on their legislative design but also on effective implementation, institutional capacity and judicial interpretation,” Abdulfatai said.
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