Deepening Anxieties over 2027 Elections as Insiders Leak Suspected Manipulation Plans
The upcoming 2027 general elections in Nigeria are facing credibility concerns, as technological innovations designed to boost the elections' integrity, such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), are at risk of exploitation.
Civil society groups and election observers have expressed their concerns about the integrity of these systems. Insiders at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have also raised similar concerns, citing troubling trends observed in by-elections conducted after the 2023 polls.
In these by-elections, pre-prepared results were reportedly uploaded to the IReV before polling closed. Suspicious delays in IReV uploads and the use of alternative result sheets were also observed, raising questions about the system's integrity and the credibility of the upcoming 2027 general elections.
The strategy to compromise operations and manipulate outcomes involves the production of dual sets of EC8 result forms at various levels. The alleged manipulation observed in by-elections conducted after the 2023 polls raises concerns about the creation of discrepancies between physically recorded results and those uploaded to the IReV.
Civil society monitors in Edo reportedly documented cases where votes tallied exceeded accredited voters, an anomaly observers described as a clear sign of manipulation. The alleged use of alternative "original" result sheets prepared by compromised operatives was also observed.
The concerns about the 2027 general elections are not limited to insiders at INEC but are also shared by civil society groups and election observers. However, there is no information available about the successor of the current chairman of INEC or the planned transition in 2027.
Politicians are alleged to have infiltrated INEC's system, adding to the concerns about the integrity of the upcoming elections. The troubling trends observed in by-elections after the 2023 polls are said to be similar to those raised in concerns about the 2027 general elections.
These developments underscore the need for transparency, accountability, and vigilance in the electoral process to ensure a free and fair election in 2027. The public and relevant authorities must work together to address the issues raised and restore confidence in the electoral system.
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