Festus Okoye Condemns Vote-Buying Ahead of 2027 Elections

Former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, has criticised vote-buying among Nigeria’s political elite, warning that the practice undermines voters’ sovereignty and weakens democratic processes.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, Okoye accused political actors of prioritising ways to influence election outcomes rather than addressing issues affecting national development.

Call for Free and Fair Elections

Okoye said credible elections must allow citizens to cast their ballots without intimidation, coercion or pressure before, during and after voting.

He also expressed concern that political parties were not sufficiently focused on ideologies, policies and issue-based campaigns, alleging that some instead relied on vote-buying to influence results.

The former commissioner urged the media, civil society organisations and citizens to monitor the activities of political leaders throughout the electoral process.

INEC Strengthens Preparations for 2027

His comments come as INEC steps up preparations for the 2027 general elections. The commission recently established an Artificial Intelligence Division within its Information and Communications Technology Department to help detect anomalies and counter disinformation.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, has also said automated AI auditing tools have been integrated into the commission’s results verification process. Okoye urged authorities to continue adopting technology to improve elections, stressing the importance of implementing such measures at the appropriate time.

Meanwhile, Amupitan has inaugurated a multi-agency electoral logistics committee to improve the distribution of election materials and prevent voter disenfranchisement. He has also called for grassroots mobilisation against voter apathy, vote-buying and electoral violence.

With the 2027 elections approaching, Okoye’s remarks highlight ongoing concerns about electoral integrity, voter freedom and the need for greater accountability among political parties and candidates.

Punch Newspapers