EU Coalition Urges Action Against Vote-Buying for 2027 Elections

An EU-backed election observation coalition has identified vote-buying and the compromise of ballot secrecy as significant threats to Nigeria's 2027 general elections. The coalition, which includes the Kukah Centre and other organizations, presented its findings in Abuja.

They urged security agencies to arrest and prosecute electoral offenders and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to improve transparency in result transmission and ensure voters can freely choose candidates. Prof Bolade Eyinla emphasized the need to address electoral integrity weaknesses, noting that while INEC improved vote counting, ballot secrecy remains a challenge.

The report highlighted that organized vote trading undermines voters' choices and called for enforcement actions beyond polling units. It also pointed out the lack of reported arrests for vote buying and electoral violence in Ekiti and Osun States, alongside concerns about result-transmission protocols and assistive voting devices for persons with disabilities.

The observers recommended making the result collation process transparent and traceable.