Ahead of the 2027 general elections, prominent voices are raising concerns about electoral integrity, with a former PDP leader issuing a stark warning against rigging and a former minister advocating for technology to bolster legitimacy.
Chief Bode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has cautioned the incoming Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fair election. He stated that Nigeria would be “heading for hell” if INEC imposes a president instead of allowing citizens to decide their leader.
“I want to plead that the new chairman of INEC must come with a conscience,” George said in an interview with Arise Television. “If you don’t allow Nigerians to decide and you impose, we are heading to hell. Let it be decided by the people who they want. It is simple.”
He made these comments while discussing speculations about a potential 2027 presidential run by former President Goodluck Jonathan, noting that such decisions ultimately rest with party members and the Nigerian people.
Separately, former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, emphasized the need to use technological innovations to strengthen, not undermine, the legitimacy of Nigeria’s elections.
Through the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, Chidoka announced the launch of the Athena Electoral Observatory (AEO), a new platform dedicated to tracking and analyzing Nigerian elections. The initiative will be unveiled on October 6, 2025, alongside a landmark report titled “Innovation in Electoral Technology (2015-2025): Gains, Gaps, and the Road Ahead.”
Chidoka stated that the launch event will serve as a national conversation on the future of Nigeria’s democracy, bringing together politicians, INEC officials, civil society, and security agencies. The accompanying report integrates findings from stakeholder workshops and a nationwide opinion poll conducted by NOI Polls, offering fresh insights into citizen trust in electoral technology ahead of the 2027 polls.
