The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged Nigerians to reject vote buying, voter apathy and electoral violence ahead of the 2027 general election, warning that such practices undermine democracy. Idris made the call on Thursday, October 15, in Abuja at the flag-off of the National Orientation…...
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged Nigerians to reject vote buying, voter apathy and electoral violence ahead of the 2027 general election, warning that such practices undermine democracy.
Idris made the call on Thursday, October 15, in Abuja at the flag-off of the National Orientation Agency’s (NOA) nationwide grassroots mobilisation campaign for the elections, themed, “Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Future: Say No to Apathy, Vote Buying and Violence. Let’s Build a United Nigeria in 2027.”
The minister, according to a statement by Rabiu Ibrahim, Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, on Thursday, said eligible voters had a responsibility to participate peacefully in the electoral process and protect the country’s democracy.
“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,” he said.
“When eligible voters stay away, sell their votes or resort to violence, the entire democratic process suffers,” Idris added.
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He said the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, remained committed to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process.
“President Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2026 into law, introducing important reforms aimed at improving transparency, accountability and public confidence in the electoral process,” the minister said.
Idris commended the NOA Director-General, Lanre Issa-Onilu, and the agency’s staff for initiating the campaign, urging them to sustain public engagement across the country.
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He said the success of the mobilisation drive would require cooperation among government institutions, electoral authorities, security agencies, community leaders and citizens.
In his remarks, Issa-Onilu said the agency would deploy its state directorates across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to take the campaign to communities nationwide.
He said the initiative would use local languages, radio programmes, community dialogues, drama and digital platforms to encourage voter participation and discourage electoral misconduct.
“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.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, said the commission was committed to conducting a credible and inclusive 2027 general election.
He urged Nigerians to cooperate with electoral stakeholders to ensure peaceful participation, stressing that credible elections required adequate preparation and active citizen involvement.
“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,” Amupitan said.