The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a firm, stern warning to politicians, political party agents, security personnel, and its own ad-hoc and permanent officials against engaging in vote tampering or compromising election integrity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Commission warned that any individual caught altering results, sabotaging election technology, buying votes, or interfering with balloting processes will face swift prosecution under the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, which carries heavy fines and mandatory prison terms.
Addressing electoral stakeholders during a sensitization and consultative session, the electoral umpire underscored its commitment to safeguarding the sanctity of the ballot and ensuring that the true choice of Nigerian voters is reflected at the polls.
Commission representatives emphasized that guidelines under the Electoral Act will be strictly enforced without concession or political bias.
Under existing provisions of the Electoral Act, political actors and election staff face severe legal consequences for election-day infractions:
Unlawfully altering result sheets or interfering with ballot papers carries a minimum fine or imprisonment of up to three years, or both.
Offering or receiving financial bribes at polling units attracts stringent monetary fines alongside custodial sentences. Bypassing or attempting to manipulate BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System) and IReV (INEC Result Viewing Portal) operations attracts prosecution for high electoral offenses. Electoral officers who conspire with political parties to alter figures face mandatory jail sentences without the option of a fine.
INEC urged political parties to focus their efforts on grassroots mobilization, voter education, and constructive campaign agendas rather than seeking illegal shortcuts to electoral victory.
The Commission reaffirmed its readiness to partner with security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to prosecute any electoral offenders, maintaining that building public trust in the democratic process remains paramount as preparations for 2027 intensify.