The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that votes will count in the 2027 general elections.
The commission said it would do everything within its powers to ensure the elections reflect the wishes of residents of Kwara State, North Central Nigeria.
Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Kwara State INEC, Dr Adejumo Peter, gave the assurance in Ilorin at a seminar organised by the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Dr Peter dismissed claims that some politicians are stockpiling Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), noting that such practices are outdated.
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“INEC has done a lot so that people cannot use others’ PVCs to vote in an election. That is why politicians have restarted into vote-buying.
“Many of the politicians are still living in the past as stocking and carting away PVCs cannot ensure electoral victory,” Dr Peter said.
He said INEC in Kwara would adhere strictly to established rules and procedures.
Dr Peter stated that the commission would ensure elections are conducted on a one man, one vote basis, stressing that the outcome would reflect the will of the people.
“I urge politicians to play according to the rules. They should campaign and tell the electorate their manifestos. They should shun violence before, during and after the elections.
“Let us do the elections peacefully like sport. They should accept the outcome of the elections as it is,” Dr Peter noted.
Speaking on the topic, Dissecting the Amended Electoral Act 2026: Innovations and Implications for Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections, Head of Legal Unit of the commission, Atata Abdulfatai, said the amended Electoral Act 2026 “marks a transformative moment in the evolution of Nigeria’s electoral framework.”
Abdulfatai added that “as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, the Act will serve as both a test and a tool for deepening the country’s democratic governance.”
Abdulfatai said that “it introduces commendable reforms aimed at enhancing transparency, strengthening internal party democracy and leveraging technology.
At the same time, it raises critical legal and practical questions, particularly in relation to constitutional consistency, the enforceability of campaign finance limits, the ouster of judicial jurisdiction over party affairs, and the narrowing of grounds for election petitions.
“Ultimately, the success of these innovations will depend not only on their legislative design, but also on effective implementation, institutional capacity and judicial interpretation.”
