The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recorded 15,777 voter transfers and the collection of 6,063 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Ogun State as part of its preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ogun State, Mrs Feyijimi Saseyi Ibiyemi, disclosed this on Thursday during an interview on FRONTLINE, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu.
Ibiyemi said the figures represented part of the Commission’s ongoing voter-related activities aimed at ensuring that eligible citizens were properly captured and able to participate in the elections from their appropriate locations.
According to her, citizens are also being given opportunities to make claims, corrections and objections where necessary, while those who have changed their locations can process voter transfers in accordance with electoral guidelines.
She urged citizens with issues concerning their voter information to use the appropriate INEC channels for corrections and clarification rather than relying on unverified information.
The REC said the Commission’s preparations for the 2027 elections extend beyond voter registration-related activities to include voter education, stakeholder engagement and measures aimed at ensuring that eligible citizens are not excluded from the electoral process.
Persons With Disabilities
Ibiyemi also assured persons living with disabilities that INEC was making arrangements to ensure their participation in the 2027 elections.
She said the Commission had recently organised a programme for persons living with disabilities at its headquarters to encourage them to participate in the electoral process.
“The Commission recently did a programme yesterday at the Commission’s headquarters with people living with disabilities. This is to encourage them to come out. They are not left out,” she said.
The REC explained that persons living with disabilities would be provided with necessary assistance and appropriate electoral materials.
“They will be given the opportunity to vote and the law allows them to vote. We are telling them not to stay at home. They will be attended to first and there are materials for them like people living with visual impairments, there are Braille materials for them,” she said.
She added that persons with albinism would also be provided with magnifying glasses to assist them during the voting process.
Stakeholder Engagement
Ibiyemi said INEC had continued to engage traditional rulers, market women, religious organisations, tertiary institutions and other stakeholders as part of efforts to improve voter participation and promote peaceful elections.
She said traditional rulers had been encouraged to mobilise citizens to participate in elections while discouraging young people from being used for thuggery, vote buying and other electoral offences.
“We have implored them because they are fathers to talk to the citizens to come out and vote and then to talk to the citizens, our children, our youth, not to be allowed to be used for thuggery, not to allow themselves to engage in vote buying and all sorts,” she said.
According to the REC, the Commission had received cooperation from traditional rulers, market women, religious bodies, persons living with disabilities and other critical stakeholders.
She added that voter mobilisation had also been taken to tertiary institutions, while radio, television, market and road shows were being used to reach members of the public.
“We also did some mobilization in the tertiary institutions. And as we are going on now, we are having a radio programme which I know that people are listening. We have done other TV, market and road shows,” she said.
INEC Warns Personnel
The REC warned INEC personnel against engaging in malpractice or other forms of electoral irregularities during the election process.
Ibiyemi said officials deployed for electoral duties were expected to operate strictly within the law and the Commission’s guidelines, warning that personnel found compromising the process would be sanctioned.
“If you are caught and you are doing any irregularity or malpractice, you will be punished,” she said.
She explained that the warning covered officials involved in different stages of election administration, including accreditation, voting, collation and other electoral duties.
According to her, accountability among election officials remained essential to maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
Parties, Campaigns Under Watch
Ibiyemi further disclosed that INEC was monitoring political parties and their campaign activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
She said the political party departments of the Commission were responsible for monitoring campaign activities and tracking party finances within the provisions of the law.
“Then the political party departments of the Commission is monitoring the political campaigns. Under the law we are allowed to track their finances and then monitor the campaigns in collaboration with security agencies and make our reports,” she said.
The REC said INEC had trained personnel responsible for monitoring political parties and preparing reports and statements of accounts based on information submitted to the Commission.
She explained that political parties were expected to ensure that information provided to INEC complied with relevant laws and electoral guidelines.
“Whatever is disclosed to us must be within the ambit of the law. We have trained staff who monitor them and prepare their statement of accounts. So that’s as far as we can go. Once we see the statement of accounts, we raise a report on it and then clarify. If anyone contravenes our guidelines, we confront this political party. That’s what we do,” she said.
Ibiyemi said the Commission would continue to work with security agencies in monitoring political campaigns and other activities requiring attention under the electoral framework.
She urged eligible citizens to participate in the electoral process and make use of official INEC channels whenever they require corrections, clarification or assistance.
The REC also reiterated that INEC personnel found guilty of electoral malpractice would face sanctions, while political parties would continue to be monitored in line with the Commission’s statutory responsibilities.
