The Independent National Electoral Commission has warned politicians, party agents and its officials against tampering with votes in the 2027 general elections, cautioning that offenders risk imprisonment and fines.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Plateau State, Prof. Samuel Egwu, gave the warning on Tuesday in Jos during a stakeholders’ meeting with political party leaders and candidates.
Egwu described the meeting as a crucial engagement ahead of the elections, saying political parties and candidates had significant roles to play in ensuring a credible electoral process.
He said the purpose of the meeting was to provide stakeholders with essential electoral information and remind them of their responsibilities under the law.
“This is the most important meeting I will be having with stakeholders, the parties and their candidates.
You are the key game-changers in the ongoing campaigns and in the elections we are going to conduct in two phases: the Presidential and National Assembly elections on the 16th of January, and the Governorship and State Assembly elections in February,” he said.
The REC said electoral offences, particularly those involving interference with the integrity of votes, could attract legal sanctions.
“As I sit here with my Heads of Department and Electoral Officers, I have told them that there are provisions in the law, if they breach them, particularly if they tamper with the integrity of the vote, they will go to jail. It is the same with anyone else who would want to tamper with the integrity of votes,” he said.
Egwu also cautioned against excessive spending during elections, noting that although campaigns required funding, the misuse of money could undermine electoral credibility.
“Money is very important in the electoral process. In fact, without money, you cannot contest an election. But when you deploy too much money, then it becomes a problem,” he added.
He expressed concern over the low attendance at the meeting and said the commission would review its invitation process to ensure wider participation in future engagements.
Also speaking, the Plateau State Commissioner of Police, CP Faniyan Ayodeji, represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Nengi Jephtha, said proper information and compliance with electoral guidelines were essential to preventing violence and conflict.
“My first point is on the importance of information. When participants in an election are properly informed and abide by that information, it helps to mitigate violence and conflict,” he said.
Ayodeji also expressed concern over the poor representation of political parties at the meeting, particularly those contesting the forthcoming elections.
He urged party leaders and candidates to take stakeholders’ engagements seriously and attend meetings convened to discuss electoral preparations.
The police commissioner assured that the force remained committed to ensuring credible and peaceful elections, but said politicians’ compliance with electoral rules would make the task easier.
“As the Nigeria Police Force, our job is made easier when political players play by the rules. The moment they agree to do what is expected of them, the work of the police is greatly reduced.
“Therefore, I appeal that whatever is discussed and whatever guidelines are given, politicians should abide by those regulations so that at the end of the day, we will have a credible and violence-free election,” he said.