The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has identified major threats ahead of the 2027 elections.
The commission listed security risks, electoral violence and vote-buying among its concerns.
It also raised concerns about hate speech, disinformation and foreign interference.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja.
He spoke while receiving a Pre-Election Assessment Mission from the International Republican Institute (IRI).
The delegation was led by Jendayi Frazier, a former United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.
Amupitan said the threats could reduce voter confidence.
He also warned that they could affect the credibility of the electoral process.
The INEC chairman spoke three days after the Osun State governorship election.
His comments also came a day before the 2027 campaign season officially began.
The campaigns started on Wednesday, August 19.
Amupitan said the IRI assessment would provide an independent view of INEC’s preparations.
He said the commission had moved into full-scale preparations for the 2027 polls.
INEC plans to deploy about 1.4 million ad-hoc personnel across the country.
The personnel will serve at more than 176,000 polling units.
The commission is also using the Automated Biometric Identification System.
The system operates under the Continuous Voter Registration framework.
It will help INEC identify duplicate voter registrations.
The system will also support a cleaner national voter register.
Amupitan said recent elections had helped INEC test its systems.
These elections included off-cycle governorship polls and legislative by-elections.
The exercises tested logistics, security coordination and election technology.
According to Amupitan, technology has reduced some weaknesses in Nigeria’s voting process.
He also highlighted the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System.
BVAS will continue to support biometric voter verification.
INEC will also publish polling unit results through its IReV portal.
Amupitan said recent elections recorded result-upload rates above 98 per cent.
He described the performance as a sign of strong operational reliability.
The commission is also preparing to audit the voter register.
INEC plans to begin some logistics arrangements early.
The commission will work with transport unions on election-day movement.
The goal is to ensure that polling units open by 8:30 a.m.
INEC also plans to improve support for vulnerable voters.
The measures will benefit persons with disabilities, pregnant women and elderly voters.
Security remains another major concern for the commission.
Amupitan said INEC would continue working with security agencies.
The collaboration will take place through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
INEC will also work with anti-corruption agencies.
These agencies include the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
The agencies will monitor electoral offences and campaign finance violations.
They will also support the prosecution of offenders.
INEC will also participate in the National Peace Committee’s Peace Accord.
The accord focuses on issue-based campaigns.
It also seeks to promote peaceful political competition.
Amupitan reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to neutrality.
He said the commission would remain impartial throughout the electoral process.
INEC aims to deliver a free and credible election.
The commission also wants the process to remain transparent and inclusive.
The 2027 elections will test Nigeria’s electoral institutions once again.
INEC must address security concerns and combat disinformation.
It must also strengthen public confidence before Nigerians go to the polls.
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