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INEC: New Voter Education Manuals Signal Fresh Push To Boost Participation Ahead Of 2027 Polls
INEC: New Voter Education Manuals Signal Fresh Push To Boost Participation Ahead Of 2027 Polls
New voter education manuals. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alongside key national and international partners, has launched the updated National Voter Education Manual and a youth-focused Civic and Voter Education Manual, in a renewed push to tackle voter apathy and strengthen democratic participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The event, held at Reiz Continental Hotel, brought together stakeholders from government agencies, civil society organisations, development partners, and youth groups, in their call for a more informed and engaged electorate.
In his welcome address, Mohammed Haruna, Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, highlighted the steady decline in voter turnout since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.
He noted that participation has dropped from over 60% in 2003 to below 30% in recent elections, stressing that while Nigerians may take the right to vote for granted, many lack the knowledge or motivation to exercise it effectively.
Haruna explained that the manuals were developed in collaboration with the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) to both educate citizens and encourage greater electoral participation.
Delivering the keynote on behalf of INEC Chairman
Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, National Commissioner Malam Haruna warned that voter apathy remains one of the biggest threats to Nigeria’s democracy.
He pointed to data from recent elections showing a widening participation gap, where a minority determines leadership for the majority.
The Commission reaffirmed that the Electoral Act 2026 strengthens transparency through improved legal frameworks and electronic processes but emphasized that laws alone cannot solve disengagement.
“An indifferent electorate is a democracy in retreat,” the keynote stressed, calling for sustained civic education to rebuild trust and participation.
In his remarks, Bukola Idowu, Team Leader of KDI, described the launch as more than a presentation of documents, calling it a strategic intervention to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic foundation.
He noted that the revised manual reflects new electoral laws, evolving technologies, and the realities of modern political participation, while the youth-friendly version is tailored to engage young Nigerians as voters, educators, and change agents.
Idowu stressed that declining turnout signals deeper issues of trust and awareness, which the initiative seeks to address through accessible and practical civic education tools.
Representing the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr. Oluwakemi Afolayan emphasized that democracy is sustained not just through elections, but through values and informed citizenship.
She described the initiative as timely, noting that embedding civic education within the National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) framework will deepen grassroots engagement and create long-term impact.
“An informed electorate is the strongest defence against voter apathy, misinformation, and electoral violence,” she said.
Also speaking, Dr. Matthew Ayibakuro of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office underscored the importance of sustained voter education in ensuring credible and inclusive elections.
He noted that elections are not one-day events but the outcome of continuous civic awareness and public trust, adding that the manuals will play a vital role in equipping citizens to participate meaningfully.
New Voter Education Manuals
Providing an overview, Victoria Eta-Messi, Director of Voter Education and Publicity at INEC, explained that the manual has been comprehensively revised to align with the Electoral Act 2026.
She highlighted key updates, including changes to party primaries, campaign finance regulations, electoral offences, and the continued use of technologies like BVAS.
The manual, now structured into 11 modules, also incorporates global best practices and expanded digital engagement strategies to reach Nigeria’s tech-savvy population.
A major highlight of the launch is the integration of the civic manual into the NYSC Community Development Service (CDS), positioning corps members as frontline civic educators nationwide.
Stakeholders said this approach leverages peer-to-peer learning to spread democratic values across communities, schools, markets, and religious institutions.
Kimpact Global
The Africa CEO Forum Convenes In Kigali Under The Theme ‘Scale or Fail
The Africa CEO Forum convenes this week in Kigali under the theme ‘Scale or Fail: Why Africa Must Embrace Shared Ownership’, a call for the continent’s industries to pool capital, infrastructure, and markets to compete at scale.
Eereporter.com
Within that frame, our EVP, Gas, Power & New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, joins the African Oil and Gas Coalition’s Strategic Roundtable, ‘Gas without Cash: Breaking the African Monetisation Deadlock,’ on Thursday, 14 May 2026 at 2:45pm WAT.
NNPC
The session will weigh the financing structures, payment architectures, and commercial models that can move African gas from stranded resource to bankable output.
NNPC Ltd. brings to the table the operational weight and partnership track record to help shape these answers.
ICPC Sensitised Members Of ICPC-NYSC CDS Group On Vital Roles They Can Play Against Corruption
Sokoto State office of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recently sensitised members of its ICPC-NYSC Community Development Service (CDS) group on the vital roles they can play in the campaign against corruption.
The sensitisation programme, held recently at Federal Government College (FGC), Sokoto, was themed around empowering corps members to serve as grassroots change agents, promoting integrity, and raising awareness of the dangers of corruption within their places of primary assignment.
Eereporter.com
Delivering the lecture on behalf of the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner (RACC), Deputy Superintendent Yusuf Kabiru stressed the importance of grassroots engagement in the anti-corruption crusade.
He urged corps members to seize the unique opportunity afforded by their postings to schools, organisations, and communities, using these platforms to enlighten the public on ethical values and responsible conduct.
“You are the frontline ambassadors of integrity,” Mr Kabiru told the gathering. “Your voices can reshape norms and deter dishonest practices at the community level.”
He further charged the incoming executives of the CDS group to demonstrate strong leadership and intensify sensitisation efforts, noting that sustained awareness campaigns remain essential to building a corruption-free society.
ICPC Sensitised Members Of ICPC-NYSC CDS
The event, which drew 67 participants – reflecting notable interest and commitment among corps members – also featured an interactive session in which attendees posed questions and shared insights on anti-corruption strategies.
The programme concluded with a renewed pledge by the corps members to uphold integrity and promote transparency in their respective places of primary assignment, after which a group photograph was taken.
Naval Chief Idi Abbas Pushes Manpower Development For Safe Navigation, Blue Economy
The chief of naval staff, Idi Abbas, has underscored the critical role of manpower development in ensuring safe navigation and driving Nigeria’s blue economy.
Mr Abbas said this on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by the hydrographer of the federation, Olumide Fadahunsi, to naval headquarters in Abuja, according to a statement on Tuesday.
Eereporter.com
Mr Abbas reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to supporting the National Hydrographic Agency, particularly in the areas of manpower provision and capacity building.
He noted that a highly skilled hydrographic workforce remained vital to naval operations and maritime domain awareness.
The naval chief also lauded the agency for its outstanding hydrographic activities in Cross River and Imo, which he said had earned widespread recognition.
He urged the agency to deepen local capacity development by producing training charts for institutions such as the Nigerian Defence Academy Naval Wing and Nigerian Navy Training Schools.
He congratulated Mr Fadahunsi on his appointment and commended the strategic direction introduced under his leadership. He also encouraged the hydrographer to sustain the momentum by consolidating on the achievements of his predecessor.
Mr Fadahunsi expressed appreciation to the naval chief for the Nigerian navy’s sustained support to the agency.
He said that upon assuming office, he conducted a comprehensive review of the agency’s operations and subsequently developed a strategic plan that prioritised manpower development as a key enabler for maritime safety and economic growth.
The hydrographer noted that personnel of the navy constituted a significant proportion of the agency’s workforce. According to him, this underscores the longstanding institutional synergy between both organisations.
Naval Chief Idi Abbas
He further revealed plans to boost female participation in hydrography, in line with the global drive by the International Hydrographic Organisation to promote inclusivity and gender balance in the field.
The visit reinforced the navy’s commitment to strengthening hydrographic capabilities as a cornerstone of maritime governance, navigational safety, and sustainable national development.
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