Concerns over insecurity, electoral credibility, democratic accountability and national unity are mounting ahead of the 2027 elections, with stakeholders warning that unresolved political tensions and institutional weaknesses could undermine public trust in the democratic process.
Reflecting the growing anxiety over the country's electoral preparedness, a coalition of civil society organisations under the aegis of the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) yesterday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend key timelines for the 2027 general elections by 90 days, citing legal uncertainties affecting several political parties.
CSOs Seek 90-Day Extension of Election Timelines
In a letter dated May 4, 2026, and submitted to the commission's headquarters in Abuja, the coalition, working in collaboration with the Good Governance Group (GGG), called for an extension of deadlines for the submission of party membership registers and the conduct of pre-primary activities. The group argued that recent judicial pronouncements on internal leadership disputes within some political parties had created operational challenges that could undermine the credibility and inclusiveness of the electoral process.
MCE, which described itself as a "Pan-Nigerian, multi-stakeholder, citizens-led coalition", said the request became necessary to safeguard democratic stability and ensure fairness for all political actors ahead of the elections. "We…wish to draw your attention to the urgent need for equitable adjustment of the timelines for the 2027 elections in line with your constitutional mandate towards safeguarding the integrity of the 2027 General elections," the coalition stated.
The coalition said Nigeria's electoral process should be guided by constitutional principles of fairness, inclusivity and equal opportunity rather than timelines alone. Citing Section 77(2) of the Constitution, which requires political parties to maintain and submit membership registers, the group argued that the provision presupposes stable and legally coherent party structures.
According to the coalition, recent Supreme Court judgments on internal party disputes had left some parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), in prolonged legal uncertainty. It warned that the affected parties could face difficulties organising congresses, updating membership registers and conducting credible primaries in line with INEC guidelines.
The coalition also alleged that INEC's current regulatory approach had contributed to the uncertainty within opposition parties, creating what it described as "an uneven operational landscape". Invoking principles of equity and justice, the group said strict enforcement of the current timetable under exceptional circumstances could undermine democratic fairness. "Where strict adherence to timelines undermines fairness, such timelines must yield to equity," the letter stated.
MCE further argued that INEC, under Section 153 of the Constitution and the Third Schedule, possesses discretionary powers to adjust electoral procedures in the interest of fairness and justice. It said a 90-day extension would restore parity among political parties, enhance the credibility of the electoral process and protect the constitutional rights of party members to participate meaningfully in internal democracy.
The coalition also warned that public confidence in INEC's neutrality was under increasing scrutiny and cautioned that refusal to adjust the timelines could trigger avoidable litigation and deepen distrust in the electoral process. "A 90-day extension is not a concession; it is a necessary recalibration to restore balance and uphold the principles upon which our democracy is founded," the coalition said.
The letter was signed by Prof. Usman Bugaje, chairman of the coalition; Dr Oby Ezekwesili, co-chairperson; Dr Isuwa Dogo for GGG; and Olawale Okunniyi, head of the national secretariat of MCE. INEC had yet to issue an official response to the request as of press time.
INEC Warns Insecurity Threatens Credible Elections Ahead of 2027 Polls
Amid the growing debate over electoral fairness and institutional neutrality, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Joash Amupitan, also warned that worsening insecurity across the country could threaten the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in 2027. Amupitan spoke during a visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, in Abuja as preparations intensify for the polls.
He said persistent violence, electoral malpractice and security threats could erode public confidence in the electoral process if urgent measures were not taken. "In Nigeria, our electoral system has faced numerous challenges over the years, ranging from malpractices to threats of violence, vote trading that undermine the confidence of the electorate," Amupitan said. "These challenges not only affect the outcome of our elections, but also pose significant risks to our national security. Thus, it is imperative that we address these concerns with utmost seriousness and resolve."
The INEC chairman stressed the need for comprehensive security planning ahead of the elections, urging security agencies to identify potential flashpoints and deploy preventive measures to protect voters and electoral officials. "The scale of insecurity across the various parts of Nigeria presents a threat to the conduct of the fair election," he said. "It is essential that we carry out total security risk analysis ahead of the election and this will enable us to identify potential flashpoints and deploy appropriate strategies to mitigate risks, thereby safeguarding voters, electoral officials and the integrity of the electoral process."
Amupitan said the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027, and the governorship and state assembly elections fixed for February 6, 2027, would require close collaboration between INEC and security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force, which leads election security operations. He added that ongoing political activities, including party congresses and forthcoming primaries under the Electoral Act, had increased the need for adequate security arrangements.
The INEC chairman also referenced the forthcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as pending by-elections across the country, describing them as important tests for Nigeria's democracy. On humanitarian concerns, Amupitan emphasised the need to ensure that Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and persons with disabilities were not excluded from the electoral process. "As the electoral body, we are doing everything to ensure that all those in IDP camps are given the conducive environment to exercise their franchise, and also the people with disabilities," he said. He urged the police to pay special attention to vulnerable groups during election planning and operations.
Responding, the Inspector-General of Police assured INEC of the Force's readiness to tackle emerging security threats ahead of the elections. Disu said the police would deploy intelligence-led policing and preventive security measures to address political violence, arms proliferation, cyber manipulation and attacks on electoral infrastructure. According to him, the police had already commenced nationwide threat assessments and intelligence mapping in collaboration with other security agencies to ensure adequate protection of electoral personnel, facilities and materials. "I assure you that the police will enforce electoral laws firmly and professionally," Disu said. The police chief warned that individuals involved in electoral offences, including vote-buying, ballot snatching, voter intimidation and destruction of electoral materials, would be arrested and prosecuted. "People with disabilities have been taken into cognisance and special plans have been put in place for them," he added.
Report Ranks 28 States Low in Democratic Performance
The concerns over electoral credibility and institutional capacity were further reinforced by a new report from civil society organisation, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), which ranked 28 states low in democratic performance across the country. The report, titled State of Democracy in Nigeria (DIN) Report 2025, was released in Abuja and found that although democratic structures exist across the country, they have yet to produce meaningful outcomes for citizens.
The study, described as one of the most comprehensive evaluations of democratic practice at the state level, assessed all 36 states using a data-driven framework. According to the report, no state attained a high level of democratic performance, while only six states — Oyo, Yobe, Ekiti, Nasarawa, Ondo and Osun — were ranked within the moderate category. In contrast, 28 states, representing 77.8 per cent, fell within the low democracy band across all geopolitical zones, reflecting what the report described as a nationwide pattern rather than a regional trend.
The states ranked low include Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Kaduna, Borno, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba in the North-East and North-West regions. Others are Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Benue and Plateau in the North-Central zone, as well as Ogun and Lagos in the South-West. In the South-East, Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi were listed, while Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River and Akwa Ibom were ranked low in the South-South region. At the bottom of the ranking, Jigawa and Rivers were classified under weak performance. The assessment was based on a Democracy Performance Index (DPI), which measured four key areas: electoral participation, political inclusion, institutional effectiveness and civil liberties.
Speaking at the launch in Abuja, Executive Director of KDI, Bukola Idowu, said the findings showed that democracy in Nigeria was functioning procedurally but remained weak in substance.
FG, Religious Leaders Seek Peaceful Coexistence Ahead of 2027 Elections
Meanwhile, ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Federal Government, alongside religious leaders, has called for greater collaboration among traditional institutions, faith-based organisations and youth groups to promote peaceful coexistence and prevent violence across the country. The appeal was made in Abuja during the triannual meeting of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), where concerns over insecurity, hate speech, political manipulation and religious intolerance dominated discussions.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, urged religious and traditional leaders to intensify efforts at sensitising young Nigerians on tolerance, dialogue and national unity to ensure that security and the protection of lives and property were not compromised before, during and after the elections. Akume observed that Nigeria and the wider world continued to face serious challenges capable of generating conflict, noting that such tensions were fuelled by poor understanding, stereotypes, ineffective communication and what he described as the "weaponisation of identity".
According to him, factors such as religion, insecurity, fear, ethnic identity and low trust levels had become triggers for violence and hostility, often worsened by political and economic manipulation. He stressed the importance of religious literacy in helping citizens resist manipulation and reject prejudice. The SGF said dialogue remained a critical tool for nation-building and peaceful coexistence, adding that national cohesion must rest on justice, dignity and mutual respect rather than suspicion or exclusion. "National cohesion cannot be built on suspicion, coercion or exclusion, rather it should be built on justice, dignity, mutual respect and the assurance that every citizen matters," he said.
Akume stated that the Federal Government had already put mechanisms in place to support religious and traditional institutions in ensuring peaceful communities throughout the electoral cycle. "I must at this point bring your attention to the fact that the nation is coming to the end of the current political and electoral cycle. Respected religious leaders, your responsibility is historic because you shape conscience, resolve conflict, minimise hatred and communicate the truth," he said. "You are the role model and the conscience of our communities. You should do everything within your moral, traditional and religious authorities to ensure that faith is never used to justify falsehood, discrimination, violence or bloodshed. Whenever such occurs, both religion and the nation are diminished. On the other hand, whenever faith inspires truth, mercy, discipline and service, the whole nation is strengthened."
Akume said Nigeria's socio-cultural diversity and strong religious identity made religious literacy a civic necessity. "For government, the implication is clear. The task is not to politicise religion, and certainly not to encourage intolerance. The task is to strengthen understanding, citizenship and responsibility," he said. He added that while religious studies already existed in school curricula, attention should now shift to improving teacher preparation, learning materials and classroom environments that encourage empathy and responsible citizenship.
In his remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto and Co-Chairman of NIREC, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, dismissed claims of an Islamisation agenda in Nigeria, insisting that Muslims had neither the intention nor the capacity to eliminate Christianity from the country. "We are not in any position whatsoever to remove Christianity from Nigeria; it is not possible. Muslims in Nigeria are not planning anything like dismissing the population of Christians in Nigeria," the Sultan said. "As Allah had decided to bring us together, he knows why he brought us together. We believe we must live together in an environment of peace, stability, respect, and understanding of one another."
He urged Nigerians to reject divisive narratives and continue to embrace dialogue despite tensions in some parts of the country. "No matter what anybody says anywhere outside this country, we are still one. We still believe in the unity of this country, and we believe talking is better than fighting. Let's understand our differences. We must continue talking to one another," he added. On insecurity, the Sultan cautioned against linking criminality with religion, arguing that such narratives deepen division and distort reality. "Stop saying they are Islamic terrorists. Terrorists and bandits are criminals, not Muslim criminals. There are more Muslims killed in all this madness called banditry or terrorism," he said.
He also condemned extremists who justify violence in the name of religion. "You build yourself up, go somewhere, blow yourself up and say 'Allahu Akbar!' Yes, God is great, but you are going to hell. Don't think you are going to Heaven. You are going to hell for taking the lives of innocent people," he stated. The Sultan further stressed the importance of proper religious knowledge, warning that ignorance fuels extremism. "The fact that you understand Arabic doesn't make you a sheikh," he said.
Also speaking, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Co-Chair of NIREC, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said Nigeria's diversity could become a source of conflict if manipulated or misunderstood. He noted that many crises described as religious often had deeper economic and social roots and warned against the use of faith as a tool for division. "Religious literacy is not merely the academic understanding of doctrines or rituals; it is the cultivation of awareness, sensitivity, and respect for the beliefs and practices of others," Okoh said. "When properly understood and harnessed, it is a source of richness. However, when misunderstood, it can become a fault line for division, conflict, and mistrust."
Okoh urged schools, religious institutions and the media to promote tolerance and mutual respect while countering hate speech and misinformation. "Our schools must teach not only the tenets of one's faith but also foster respect for others. Our places of worship must become centres of enlightenment," he said. He reaffirmed the commitment of Christian leaders to continued interfaith cooperation. "We will continue working together with our Muslim brothers and sisters to build a nation where every citizen feels safe, valued, and respected regardless of their faith," he added.
