INFORMATION MINISTER URGES NIGERIANS TO REJECT VOTE BUYING AHEAD OF 2027 ELECTION
By: Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged Nigerians to reject vote buying, voter apathy and electoral violence ahead of the 2027 general election.
Idris made the call in Abuja during the flag-off of the National Orientation Agency’s (NOA) nationwide grassroots mobilisation campaign, aimed at encouraging peaceful and responsible electoral participation.
He said eligible voters had a responsibility to participate in the electoral process and make informed choices, warning that selling votes, staying away from elections and engaging in violence could undermine democracy.
The minister urged the NOA to sustain public awareness campaigns across the country, stressing that credible elections required cooperation among government institutions, electoral authorities, security agencies, community leaders and citizens.
In his remarks, NOA Director-General Lanre Issa-Onilu said the agency would take the campaign to communities across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory through local languages, radio programmes, community dialogues, drama and digital platforms.
He said the initiative would promote voter participation, discourage electoral violence and vote buying, and encourage Nigerians to share verified information.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to conducting a free, fair, transparent and inclusive 2027 general election. He called for early preparation and cooperation among electoral stakeholders to ensure peaceful participation.
The campaign is being conducted under the theme, “Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Future,” with a focus on tackling voter apathy, vote buying and violence ahead of the elections.