2027: Information Minister Urges Nigerians to Reject Vote Buying, Electoral Violence
…NOA Launches Nationwide Grassroots Mobilisation Campaign to Tackle Voter Apathy
Oru Leonard
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged Nigerians to reject vote buying, voter apathy and electoral violence ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing the need for citizens to participate peacefully in the democratic process.
Idris made the call on Thursday in Abuja during the flag-off of the National Orientation Agency’s (NOA) nationwide grassroots mobilisation campaign for the 2027 general elections.
The campaign, themed “Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Future: Say No to Apathy, Vote Buying and Violence. Let’s Build a United Nigeria in 2027,” seeks to encourage responsible electoral participation and promote peaceful elections across the country.
The minister described elections as a critical opportunity for citizens to determine their representatives and influence the future of their communities and the nation.
He warned that voter apathy, vote selling and electoral violence could undermine the democratic process, urging eligible voters to exercise their franchise responsibly.
“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,” Idris said.
He added that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained committed to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions and improving public confidence in elections.
According to the minister, the government’s commitment to electoral reforms is reflected in the signing of the Electoral Act 2026 into law, which he said introduced measures intended to improve transparency and accountability.
Idris commended the Director-General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, and the agency’s personnel for initiating the nationwide mobilisation campaign.
He stressed that the success of the exercise would depend on collaboration among government institutions, electoral authorities, security agencies, community leaders and the general public.
The minister called on NOA to sustain its engagement with Nigerians at the grassroots, emphasising the importance of public enlightenment in building a culture of peaceful and credible elections.
Speaking at the event, Issa-Onilu said the agency would deploy its state directorates across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory to ensure that the campaign reaches communities nationwide.
He explained that the mobilisation would utilise local languages, radio programmes, community dialogues, drama and digital platforms to educate citizens on the importance of voting and the dangers of electoral misconduct.
According to him, the campaign would also encourage Nigerians to share verified information and resist practices capable of undermining the credibility of the electoral process.
“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.
He noted that grassroots engagement remained essential to addressing voter apathy and promoting informed participation in the electoral process.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to conducting a free, fair, transparent, inclusive and credible 2027 general election.
Amupitan said achieving credible elections would require early preparations, cooperation among electoral stakeholders and active participation by citizens.
“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 INEC chairman urged Nigerians to work with electoral stakeholders to promote peaceful participation and strengthen the democratic process.
The NOA campaign is expected to intensify public awareness ahead of the 2027 general elections, with a focus on encouraging eligible voters to participate, respect the choices of others and reject practices that threaten lives, national unity and democratic stability.
The initiative forms part of efforts to promote responsible citizenship and deepen democratic participation through sustained public enlightenment at the grassroots.
Cover Photo Caption: The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, fnipr, alongside the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN and other dignitaries, during the flag-off of the Nationwide Grassroots Mobilisation for the 2027 General Election on October 15, 2026, in Abuja.
Photo: FMINO.
