2027: INEC declares war on ‘rig and die’ merchants, vows sanctions

By John Attah

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fired a strong warning to politicians promoting the controversial “rig and die” slogan ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring that anyone who compromises the electoral process will face the full weight of the law.

The Commission warned that the dangerous political rhetoric could trigger electoral violence and expose innocent Nigerians, particularly election officials, ad hoc staff, party agents and observers, to avoidable attacks.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, delivered the warning in Enugu during a media engagement forum for journalists and media executives from the South-East, South-South and South-West geopolitical zones.

Haruna condemned the growing culture of political intimidation, insisting that no electoral ambition was worth the blood of innocent Nigerians.

He warned politicians against making threats capable of turning elections into a battlefield, stressing that disputes over electoral outcomes must be addressed through lawful channels rather than violence.

“Any electoral official, including ad hoc personnel, found to have compromised the electoral process will face the full weight of the law,” he declared.

He urged political actors and their supporters to channel grievances through INEC, security agencies and the courts instead of resorting to threats, intimidation or physical attacks.

The INEC commissioner also called for a stronger partnership between the electoral body and the media, describing journalists as indispensable to the survival of democracy and the credibility of the 2027 elections.

According to him, public confidence in elections depends significantly on accurate, balanced and responsible reporting.

Haruna warned that fake results, manipulated videos, unverified allegations and sensational political reports could undermine public trust and ignite violence.

He particularly cautioned journalists against announcing unofficial results or presenting projections as authentic election outcomes.

“Results are declared only by the Commission through its duly appointed returning officers. Projections and unofficial figures must be clearly labelled as such,” he said.

The commissioner urged media organisations to verify allegations against INEC through appropriate official channels before publication, while distinguishing between incidents personally witnessed by reporters and information obtained from other sources.

He also advocated inclusive election reporting, urging journalists to give greater attention to women, youths and persons with disabilities, particularly the barriers they face in participating in elections.

Haruna further tasked media organisations with intensifying voter education on Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), accreditation procedures, electronic transmission of results and peaceful electoral participation.

Journalists warned against brown envelopes

In a presentation on Ethical and Professional Standards in Election Reporting, resource person, Mr Osaretin Imahheyierobo, challenged journalists to brace for the 2027 election cycle by familiarising themselves with the Electoral Act 2026, INEC’s election coverage guidelines and the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.

He expressed concern that many journalists covering elections were unfamiliar with the legal and regulatory frameworks governing the electoral process.

Imahheyierobo urged media organisations to establish dedicated election desks, develop clear editorial guidelines and strengthen fact-checking mechanisms to combat misinformation.

He also called for a better understanding of INEC’s technological innovations, particularly the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), to prevent misleading reports about accreditation, voting and result management.

The resource person warned journalists against compromising professional ethics for financial inducements, popularly known as brown envelopes.

He insisted that political candidates must be subjected to rigorous scrutiny rather than having their manifestoes and campaign promises amplified without critical examination.

He also demanded equitable media access for all political parties and candidates, noting that voters depended on the media for credible information to make informed electoral choices.

INEC distributes 35,000 PVCs in Enugu

Earlier, Enugu State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, disclosed that INEC had received approximately 35,000 Permanent Voter Cards for distribution across the state’s 260 electoral wards.

He urged journalists to support public enlightenment campaigns to ensure eligible voters collected their PVCs ahead of the 2027 elections.

Chukwu described the media as a strategic partner in voter education, shaping public opinion and holding institutions accountable, but warned that misinformation could erode electoral credibility.

He assured that INEC was committed to conducting an acceptable, transparent, inclusive and peaceful 2027 general election.

The REC also welcomed constructive criticism and recommendations from media stakeholders, urging journalists to educate voters on their responsibilities before, during and after elections.

NUJ raises alarm over journalists’ welfare, INEC’s credibility

However, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Enugu State Council, Comrade Obinna Ogbuka, raised concerns over what he described as the late commencement of the media engagement, arguing that the initiative should have started earlier to enable more journalists to benefit from the training.

Ogbuka also lamented the apparent absence of adequate budgetary provision for journalists’ logistics during election assignments.

He maintained that journalists required appropriate logistical support to effectively discharge their responsibilities, particularly in difficult election environments.

The NUJ chairman further expressed concern over declining public confidence in INEC, urging the Commission to take deliberate and measurable steps to rebuild Nigerians’ trust before the next general elections.

2023 glitches must not repeat, stakeholders tell INEC

Participants at the engagement commended INEC for its preparations towards the 2027 elections but urged the Commission to address shortcomings that undermined previous electoral exercises.

Particular concern was raised over the technical glitches that affected electronic transmission of results during the 2023 presidential election.

They stressed that the credibility of the 2027 elections would depend not only on INEC’s assurances but also on demonstrable improvements in technology, transparency, logistics and result management.

The media practitioners also urged the Commission to recognise journalists as critical stakeholders rather than mere observers of the electoral process.

The one-day engagement featured discussions on the legal and regulatory frameworks governing elections, provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and the rules guiding the publication and announcement of election results.