The Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) has called on political parties, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to thoroughly interrogate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines and reviews ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The organisation stressed that electoral credibility in Nigeria requires proactive engagement with INEC’s processes, adding that citizens must be empowered to resist manipulation by politicians.
Speaking during a town hall meeting in Sokoto, PAACA’s Executive Director, Ezenwa Nwagwu, noted that 90 per cent of crimes during elections are committed by politicians.
“If citizens are empowered with the right information, manipulation becomes difficult,” he said.
The event, organised by PAACA in collaboration with the Federal Government and the MacArthur Foundation, brought together key stakeholders in the democratic space.
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Sokoto State, Umar Yusuf Garba, represented by Abdullahi Sale Dawa, Head of Voter Education and Publicity, described the initiative as “an important platform to deepen understanding of electoral processes.
Also speaking, the Sokoto State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Alhaji Babangida Kurfi, represented by Ms. Okeke Uche Ngozi, commended the effort, noting that the town hall was timely.
He said the gathering provided stakeholders an opportunity to reflect on electoral reforms, harness existing gains, and identify areas for improvement as Nigeria prepares for 2027.
