Festus Okoye, a former national commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says open vote buying and insecurity could heavily influence 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.
He said voters can now collect money from multiple political
actors at polling locations, making the practice more difficult to detect and
curb.
Okoye also raised concerns about the security challenges
that could affect the 2027 elections.
He said the level of security personnel and resources
deployed during off-cycle elections may not be replicated across the country
during the general election.
The former INEC commissioner said this could pose a major
challenge, particularly in communities already affected by insecurity.
Okoye said the situation raises questions about how
elections would be conducted and results collated in affected areas during the
2027 polls.
The former INEC commissioner identified political party
primaries as another area of concern.
He said the control of party primaries by governors has left
some politicians dissatisfied, prompting them to seek alternative political
platforms.
Okoye also expressed concern about the growing perception
that the judiciary has become the institution that ultimately confers political
mandates after elections.
He said the perception could further erode public confidence
in the electoral process.
The former INEC commissioner urged broadcast journalists to
strengthen their investigative and legal knowledge ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said journalists must understand the constitutional,
legal and operational issues surrounding elections to effectively hold
political actors accountable and report the polls accurately.
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