Primate Ayodele flags fake polling units risk ahead of 2027 elections

Primate Elijah Ayodele, head of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has alerted the Independent National Electoral Commission to a potential electoral threat ahead of 2027. In a statement released on Sunday through his media spokesman Osho Oluwatosin, Ayodele outlined claims that operatives may establish counterfeit polling units and supply fake electoral materials across the country during the forthcoming presidential and legislative contests.

The spiritual leader contended that such a scheme would be deployed to alter voting outcomes and disadvantage ordinary citizens seeking to cast their ballots. Ayodele stressed that if INEC does not implement preventative steps and strengthen its oversight mechanisms, the integrity of the election process could be severely compromised.

He specifically called on the electoral body to intensify monitoring efforts and step up voter education programmes to protect the credibility of the polls. The warning points to longstanding concerns about electoral malpractice in Nigeria's political system.

Fake polling units have been cited as a potential avenue for manipulating results, particularly in areas where voter verification systems are weak or where coordination between electoral officials breaks down. Ayodele's caution adds to the mounting scrutiny of preparations for the 2027 cycle, as various stakeholders voice concerns about different aspects of the electoral process.

INEC has not yet issued a public response to Ayodele's alert. The commission has previously acknowledged the challenges it faces in securing polling locations and preventing the diversion of materials, though it has not detailed specific instances of fake stations being used in recent elections.

The 2027 general elections are scheduled to determine Nigeria's next president and National Assembly members.