ABUJA — A former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Festus Okoye, has warned that vote buying and insecurity could heavily influence the outcome of the 2027 general election.
Okoye spoke on Saturday during a virtual masterclass organised by the Lagos chapter of the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters, SNB.
He said vote buying had evolved from discreet cash distributions disguised as empowerment programmes to more open transactions at polling units.
According to him, voters could now collect money from multiple political actors at polling locations, making the practice increasingly difficult to detect and curb.
Okoye also raised concerns about the security situation ahead of the 2027 elections, saying the level of personnel and resources deployed during off-cycle elections might not be replicated across the country during the general election.
