The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have intensified collaboration to combat voter apathy, misinformation and civic ignorance ahead of the 2027 General Election, pledging sustained voter education to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
Speaking during an advocacy visit to the INEC headquarters , the Director-General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said continuous voter and civic education remains crucial to ensuring credible elections and increasing citizens’ participation in the democratic process.
Issa-Onilu stressed that democracy can only flourish when citizens are well informed and actively involved in choosing their leaders, noting that the 2023 General Election exposed serious gaps in voter education, particularly among first-time voters.
According to him, misinformation and poor understanding of electoral processes fueled unnecessary controversies during the last election, making it imperative for both agencies to deepen collaboration ahead of the next polls.
He maintained that neither NOA nor INEC could effectively address the challenge alone, describing their partnership as critical to safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy.
The NOA Director-General highlighted the Agency’s extensive grassroots network, with offices in all states, local government areas and communities across the country, saying the structure positions the Agency to deliver sustained civic and voter education nationwide.
He emphasized that beyond communicating government policies and programmes, NOA also has the constitutional responsibility of promoting patriotism, national values and responsible citizenship.
Issa-Onilu argued that citizens are more likely to protect public infrastructure and participate meaningfully in governance when they feel connected to their country, stressing that patriotism is built through trust rather than coercion.
He proposed three key areas of collaboration with INEC: institutionalising year-round voter education, strengthening joint civic enlightenment programmes and fostering closer cooperation between INEC’s Voter Education Department and NOA’s Department of Civic Values and Democracy Education.
Responding, the Chairman of INEC, Professor Josh Amupitan, SAN, described the meeting as a significant convergence of two institutions with constitutional responsibilities for deepening democratic culture in Nigeria.
He observed that while INEC continues to improve election technology through innovations such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), technology alone cannot guarantee credible elections if citizens remain uninformed or disillusioned.
Amupitan identified voter apathy, fake news and misinformation as some of the greatest threats to Nigeria’s electoral process, warning that coordinated efforts were needed to restore public confidence in elections.
He called for grassroots campaigns that would not only educate Nigerians on voting procedures but also explain the importance of their votes and the safeguards protecting electoral integrity.
The INEC Chairman also urged both institutions to immediately commence preparations for the 2027 General Election through sustained voter education campaigns and joint efforts against vote-buying and disinformation.
He assured NOA of the Commission’s full support, pledging to share resources and strengthen institutional cooperation to ensure the partnership delivers meaningful results.
Both agencies expressed confidence that deeper collaboration would boost civic consciousness, increase voter turnout and further enhance the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 General Election.
