The Akwa Ibom Human Rights Community (AKHRC) on 13th February, 2026, hosted a roundtable discussion with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and civil society organizations (CSOs) to assess INEC’s preparedness for the 2027 General Elections.
The event, held at the AKHRC Secretariat in Uyo, brought together stakeholders to discuss ways to strengthen electoral integrity in Akwa Ibom State. INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Obo Efanga, and other management staff were in attendance.
Clifford Thomas, Convener of AKHRC, explained that the community carefully selected grassroots stakeholders from its 270 member organizations, institutions, and individuals to participate in the dialogue. He emphasized the importance of citizens’ education and participation in the upcoming elections.
The REC highlighted improvements in Nigeria’s electoral process since 1979, including the deployment of technology, which has increased the cost of managing elections. A major announcement from INEC was the official schedule for the 2027 polls: Presidential and National Assembly Elections on February 20, 2027, and Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections on March 15, 2027.
The Director of ICT shared plans to enhance result electronic transmission systems, including real-time data transmission, cybersecurity protections, and efficient result collation platforms. Participants discussed key areas, including Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), technological innovation in result transmission and accreditation systems, training for ad-hoc staff, combating misinformation, and enhancing inclusivity and security coordination for voters.
Organizations present included the Practicing Traditional Birth Attendants of Akwa Ibom State, Policy Alert, FoCEHRaDA, Vital Partners, CDHR, CCHR, CHRAN, Peoples Right to Life, and several other CSOs, as well as journalists.
The dialogue ended with participants recommitting to sustained collaboration between INEC, civil society, media, and technology partners to strengthen the integrity of the 2027 electoral process.
