The Independent National Electoral Commission has assured Nigerians that it has corrected the technical issues that damaged public trust during the 2023 presidential election. The electoral body said significant updates are being put in place to ensure smooth operations in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja, the commission's Deputy Director of Voter Education, Mrs Paula Iwenjiora, admitted that public confidence suffered due to the handling of the last presidential election. She spoke at a youth participation and voter education roundtable organised by the Kimpact Development Initiative under the YERP-Naija project, according to Punch.
Iwenjiora explained that excessive web traffic on the commission’s portal caused major disruptions during the 2023 presidential contest. However, she noted that the technical team resolved several of those bottlenecks before the governorship polls. She added that the current commission chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, who has spent over a year in office, is working closely with staff and national commissioners to prevent a recurrence.
To protect the integrity of future elections, the commission revealed plans to introduce advanced monitoring tools. Iwenjiora disclosed that technology such as drones will be used to monitor polling centres and record electoral crimes, including vote-buying, so offenders can be identified without dispute. She also confirmed that the commission is coordinating with the police, the military, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to address voter safety and security concerns.
The deputy director made a direct appeal to young people across the country, advising them not to restrict their political activity to online debates. She warned that failing to participate in physical voting means leaving vital national decisions to other demographics.
Addressing difficulties regarding the collection of Permanent Voter Cards, Iwenjiora explained that distribution is carried out in batches for both new and older applicants. She advised citizens not to be discouraged if their cards are not immediately found at local offices, noting that they should continue to check while cards are being processed and released.
