Folalumi Alaran in Abuja
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has launched a nationwide grassroots mobilisation campaign to address voter apathy, vote buying and electoral violence ahead of the 2027 general election, as it seeks to mobilise Nigerians for active participation in the electoral process.
The campaign, themed “Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Future: Say No to Apathy, Vote Buying and Violence. Let’s Build a United Nigeria in 2027,” was officially flagged off on Thursday in Abuja.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris commended the NOA for initiating the campaign, stressing that citizens must recognise the importance of their votes in determining the country’s political leadership and future.
“An election is more than a day at the polling unit. It is an opportunity for citizens to decide who represents them and to influence the direction of their communities and country,” the minister said.
He warned that voter apathy, vote buying and electoral violence posed serious threats to democratic development.
“When eligible voters stay away, sell their votes or resort to violence, the entire democratic process suffers,” Idris added.
The minister called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, electoral authorities, security agencies, community leaders and citizens to ensure peaceful participation in the 2027 elections.
He also commended the NOA Director-General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, and the agency’s staff for taking the campaign to the grassroots, urging them to sustain public enlightenment efforts across the country.
Speaking at the event, Issa-Onilu said the agency would deploy its state directorates across the 36 states and the FCT to engage citizens on the importance of electoral participation and responsible voting.
He explained that the campaign would adopt community-based communication strategies, including the use of local languages, radio programmes, town hall meetings, community dialogues, drama and digital platforms to reach Nigerians in urban and rural areas.
According to him, the approach would enable the agency to communicate directly with citizens, address misconceptions about elections and encourage informed participation.
“The National Orientation Agency will take this campaign to communities across the country, engaging Nigerians in languages they understand to promote voter participation, discourage vote buying and electoral violence, and encourage the responsible sharing of verified information,” Issa-Onilu said.
The NOA director-general stressed that the campaign would go beyond conventional public announcements by engaging citizens directly in their communities and encouraging them to take ownership of the democratic process.
He said the agency would intensify public enlightenment to address voter apathy, discourage electoral malpractice and promote peaceful coexistence among Nigerians with differing political views.
The campaign is also expected to highlight the consequences of selling votes, accepting inducements from political actors and engaging in violence before, during and after elections.
Also, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, who also spoke at the ceremony, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to conducting a free, fair, transparent, inclusive and credible 2027 general election.
Amupitan said credible elections required early preparation, effective collaboration among stakeholders and the active participation of citizens.
“INEC is committed to conducting a free, fair, transparent, inclusive and credible 2027 General Election. Achieving this requires early preparation, strong collaboration among stakeholders and the active participation of Nigerians,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to cooperate with electoral stakeholders and contribute to a peaceful process that reflects the wishes of the electorate.
The participation of INEC in the campaign underscores the importance of collaboration between the electoral umpire and public enlightenment institutions in preparing citizens for the forthcoming elections.
The NOA campaign is expected to focus on increasing voter awareness, encouraging eligible Nigerians to exercise their voting rights and promoting responsible conduct throughout the electoral process.
It will also seek to discourage the spread of misinformation and encourage citizens to verify electoral information before sharing it, particularly on social media and other digital platforms.
Through grassroots mobilisation, the agency aims to reinforce the message that credible elections require more than the conduct of polls by electoral authorities; they also depend on citizens making informed choices and rejecting practices that compromise the integrity of the process.
The campaign further calls on Nigerians to respect opposing political views, reject violence and recognise that peaceful participation is essential to national unity and democratic stability.
With preparations for the 2027 general election gathering momentum, the NOA initiative places civic education and citizen mobilisation at the centre of efforts to encourage a more informed, peaceful and participatory electoral process.