Tells INEC to prosecute vote buyers, stress-test BVAS
By Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA: The International Republican Institute (IRI) has warned that vote-buying, insecurity and declining public trust in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) pose significant threats to the credibility of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
This is contained in a statement of findings and recommendations issued by IRI’s Pre-Election Assessment Mission to Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections, co-led by IRI President, Daniel Twining, and National Endowment for Democracy (NED) Board Member and former Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Ambassador Jendayi Frazer.
The mission, which deployed a team of experts from August 17 to 21, 2026, to assess the electoral environment and preparations for the January 16, 2027 general elections, said economic hardship, insecurity and declining confidence in political institutions posed significant challenges to holding elections in an environment conducive to meaningful democratic participation.
