Abuja:Adopt-a-Goal for Development Initiative has called upon the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the 2027 general elections in Nigeria are the most credible in the nation’s history. The group believes this would be the greatest tribute to the late democracy advocate Ariyo Dare Atoye.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the group emphasized that the fourth anniversary of Atoye’s death should be more than just memorial speeches. Instead, it should mark a renewed national commitment to conducting elections that Nigerians can genuinely trust.
Atoye was a prominent civil society advocate focused on electoral reforms, democratic accountability, and citizens’ participation before he passed away on October 27, 2022. In a statement signed by Executive Director Kunle Afolabi, Adopt-a-Goal highlighted that Atoye dedicated a significant part of his public life to enhancing the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process. The organization stated that the most fitting monument to honor Atoye would be an electoral system that Nigerians can trust.
The group noted that the 2027 election presents a historic opportunity to transform Atoye’s advocacy for electoral reform into reality. They stressed that the most fitting tribute to his memory would be an election where all eligible Nigerians can vote freely and every legitimate vote is counted. The group urged that technology must function as promised, results should reflect the people’s will, and the process must gain public confidence.
Adopt-a-Goal stated that INEC would be judged not only by its logistics or technological deployment but also by whether Nigerians perceive the process as impartial, transparent, and credible. The group emphasized the importance of safeguarding the voters’ register, ensuring transparent deployment of electoral technology, and strengthening the transmission and collation of results.
Further, they called for professional training of electoral personnel, strict neutrality, and early resolution of operational and technological challenges. Political parties and candidates were also urged to reject violence, intimidation, and vote-buying, allowing Nigerians to exercise their franchise freely.
The group reiterated Atoye’s fundamental advocacy for obtaining political power through citizens’ consent, not through violence, manipulation, or institutional subversion. They encouraged civil society groups, the media, religious and traditional institutions, professional bodies, and citizens to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
Adopt-a-Goal reflected on Atoye’s belief in peaceful civic mobilization as a tool for public policy change and democracy strengthening. The 2027 election, they said, offers INEC a chance to restore public confidence and show that the efforts for electoral reform have not been in vain.
The organization concluded that a transparent and credible election would speak louder than any anniversary tribute, urging that the 2027 general election should be a defining moment for Nigeria to prove the ballot’s strength over manipulation, violence, money, and political influence.