Lagos: The International Press Centre (IPC), on Monday, urged stakeholders to ‘reappraise’ and ‘recommit’ to safeguarding electoral integrity, as articulated by Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of the IPC, during his remarks at the presentation of the media-led multi-stakeholder dialogue report on ‘Rebuilding Electoral Trust’ ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the report titled ‘Safeguarding Electoral Integrity for Democratic Consolidation’ is an IPC report on the media-led nationwide dialogue series focused on rebuilding trust in Nigeria’s electoral process, institutions, and elections. The report synthesizes IPC’s media-led multi-stakeholder dialogues conducted across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones between 2023 and 2025. These engagements were part of ‘Component 4: Support to Media of the European Union (EU) Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN II).
Mr. Arogundade emphasized that the credibility of elections is a key indicator of a robust and sustainable democracy. He stated that credible elections strengthen public confidence by affirming that governance is determined by the will of the people. Moreover, credible elections boost citizen involvement in governance, build trust in democratic institutions, legitimize elected officials, and lay the groundwork for a stable democracy.
Arogundade highlighted the adverse effects of elections perceived as lacking credibility due to irregularities, manipulation, or insufficient transparency, which can undermine public trust. He pointed out that such a deficit in electoral trust could lead to voter apathy, political disengagement, loss of faith in electoral bodies, weakening of public institutions, and a growing disconnect between the people and those in power. Additionally, it can result in a lack of inclusive participation and non-involvement of citizens and stakeholders alike.
The IPC executive director described the journey of electoral trust and integrity from 2023 to 2027 as a continuous process rather than a final goal. He emphasized that electoral trust involves moving from widespread skepticism towards renewed confidence in democracy. It focuses on the credibility of processes such as voter registration, counting, result declaration, and dispute resolution, not only on outcomes. Building trust is a continuous journey that demands transparency, integrity, competence, inclusiveness, accountability, and constituency across the electoral cycle.
Mr. Arogundade noted that it is essential for people to believe that the outcome of elections reflects their choices. He described the path from 2023 to 2027 as an ongoing process. The 2023 general elections represent a pivotal junction marked by significant progress achieved through careful planning. However, certain technical issues led to some erosions of trust in the process. The subsequent discourse highlights that electoral credibility must be treated as a continuous responsibility, rather than an afterthought.
The approach to the 2027 elections involves more than just preparing for polling day. Establishing and maintaining electoral trust is a major and consistent imperative. Arogundade disclosed that the IPC media-led nationwide dialogue forum across geopolitical zones provided opportunities for participants to share perspectives and engage in discussions. The goal was to build stakeholder consensus on measures to rebuild trust in electoral processes, institutions, and elections.