Nigerian civil society group YIAGA Africa has sounded a warning that the 2027 general elections could be one of the most compromised and expensive in the country’s history if urgent steps are not taken to safeguard the process.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today program, the group’s Executive Director, Samson Itodo, expressed concern over the looming leadership vacuum within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He noted that the tenure of the current chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, who has presided over the commission for ten years, will come to an end before the polls, leaving a successor with little time to prepare for such a crucial national exercise.
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Itodo stressed that the timing of the transition could weaken the commission’s effectiveness, especially as several INEC commissioners are also set to exit just before the elections. “It is likely that the 2027 elections will be the most compromised and possibly the most expensive. If not managed carefully from a statesman’s perspective, the next elections could be at risk,” he cautioned.
He further lamented that public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process is already at a dangerously low point, raising questions about credibility and transparency. “There are commissioners who will be leaving next year and others who will depart right before the 2027 elections, which is quite significant,” he added.
The warning comes amid ongoing debates about electoral reforms, funding, and the readiness of institutions to handle the next general elections. With memories of past election controversies still fresh, YIAGA Africa’s statement has intensified calls for a smooth leadership transition within INEC and urgent measures to restore voter confidence before Nigerians head to the polls in 2027.
