Abuja: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians that every vote will count in the 2027 general elections, saying the commission is committed to consolidating the nation’s democratic governance. INEC Deputy Director of Voter Education and Planning, Mrs Magdalene Aku, gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja during a democracy roundtable organised by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Aku spoke on the theme: ‘Making Nigeria’s Vote Count in 2027: The Role of INEC,’ stating that making Nigerians’ votes count was not just a slogan, but a commitment to ensure the electorate’s choices reflected in election outcomes. She described voters as the ‘ultimate kingmakers’ in a constitutional democracy, adding that the commission’s primary mandate centered on protecting the will of the electorate rather than monitoring political outcomes.
She highlighted the commission’s progressive adoption of technology to eliminate electoral frauds, citing the transition from Smart Card Readers to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the real-time upload of results via the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal among efforts of the commission. According to her, transparency was guaranteed right from the grassroots level, as polling unit results recorded on Form EC8A, popularly referred to as the people’s result, are posted on walls at polling stations for public view before electronic transmission.
On inclusivity, the assistant director affirmed that INEC’s targeted policies ensure hard-to-reach terrains and vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, noting that the visually impaired and individuals with albinism were fully integrated into the electoral process. ‘You’ll agree with me that there are certain terrains that are difficult to go to, but INEC makes effort to reach those places because it wants to carry everyone along,’ she said.
Aku urged citizens to recognise both their constitutional rights and civic responsibilities, stressing that voter and civic education were key to a thriving democracy. She cautioned citizens against selling their ballots, describing the voter’s card as a fundamental tool for shaping the country’s future. Aku also called for collective action among all stakeholders, noting that while INEC serves as the electoral umpire, achieving seamless elections requires collective responsibilities from the public, media, and security agencies.