Jane Salihu
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Joash Amupitan, has called for stronger grassroots collaboration with the National Orientation Agency to deepen civic education and boost democratic participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan made the call on Wednesday while receiving the Director-General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, and his delegation during a courtesy visit to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
He said credible elections depended not only on efficient electoral administration but also on an informed and engaged citizenry, adding that technology and electoral reforms alone could not guarantee successful elections if citizens lost confidence in the democratic process.
The INEC chairman identified voter apathy and the spread of misinformation as major threats to the country’s democracy, and urged the two institutions to collaborate on continuous voter education beyond election periods.
He said recent elections had shown improvements in election management through technology but had also exposed knowledge gaps among voters, particularly first-time voters, stressing the need for sustained public enlightenment in local languages.
Amupitan said NOA’s nationwide grassroots presence made it a critical partner in educating citizens, combating fake news, discouraging vote-buying and promoting participation in the electoral process.
Responding, Issa-Onilu described the proposed collaboration as timely, noting that NOA’s nationwide structure placed the agency in a strategic position to sustain civic and voter education across the country.
He said NOA operated 818 offices nationwide, including offices in all 774 local government areas, the 36 states and six zonal directorates, giving it the capacity to reach communities at the grassroots.
Issa-Onilu said civic education should not be confined to election periods, adding that Nigerians must be continuously educated on their democratic rights and civic responsibilities.
“Education is not adequate if it is done only during elections. It has to be continuous. Even in an election year, it should not start only a few months before voting,” he said.
He added that patriotism, public trust and confidence in democratic institutions could not be imposed but must be built through consistent public engagement, transparent governance and responsible leadership.
Issa-Onilu also noted that the 2023 elections exposed significant civic knowledge gaps, particularly among young and first-time voters who were easily swayed by misinformation on digital platforms.
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