NOA Flags Off Nationwide Grassroots Campaign, Targets Communities Across 36 States, FCT

By Chioma Vivian James

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to promote peaceful and credible elections ahead of the 2027 general polls, as the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, called on Nigerians to reject voter apathy, vote-buying and electoral violence.

Idris made the call on Thursday in Abuja while flagging off the National Orientation Agency’s (NOA) nationwide grassroots mobilisation campaign for the 2027 general elections at the NAF Conference Centre.

The campaign, themed “Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Future: Say No to Apathy, Vote Buying and Violence. Let’s Build a United Nigeria in 2027,” seeks to deepen civic awareness, encourage responsible political participation and mobilise eligible Nigerians to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

The minister, who supervises the NOA and served as the chief host of the event, described elections as a critical opportunity for citizens to determine their leadership and influence the direction of their communities and the country.

He warned that voter apathy, the sale of votes and electoral violence undermine democratic development and weaken the people’s ability to hold elected leaders accountable.

“An election is more than a day at the polling unit. It is an opportunity for citizens to decide who represents them and to influence the direction of their communities and country. When eligible voters stay away, sell their votes or resort to violence, the entire democratic process suffers,” Idris said.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions and improving public confidence in the electoral process.

Idris cited the Electoral Act 2026, signed into law by the President, as part of efforts to enhance electoral transparency, accountability and credibility.

He commended the NOA Director-General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, and the agency’s staff for initiating the nationwide campaign, urging them to sustain public engagement and ensure that the message reached Nigerians at the grassroots.

According to him, the success of the initiative would depend on effective collaboration among government institutions, electoral authorities, security agencies, community leaders and citizens.

POLICE WARN YOUTHS AGAINST POLITICAL VIOLENCE

In a goodwill message delivered on his behalf by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, warned Nigerian youths against allowing politicians to use them as instruments of electoral violence.

Disu assured Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force would work to provide a safe and secure environment for citizens to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

He said the police would collaborate with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), other security agencies and relevant stakeholders through intelligence sharing, inter-agency cooperation and professional policing to support peaceful elections in 2027.

The police chief urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to embrace issue-based campaigns, political tolerance and respect for the rule of law.

He cautioned against voter intimidation, vote-buying, destruction of electoral materials and other acts capable of undermining the electoral process.

Addressing young Nigerians, Disu stressed that their future was far more valuable than any temporary political inducement, warning them against being manipulated into activities that could endanger lives and destabilise the country.

He also urged eligible voters to reject apathy and protect the sanctity of their votes, assuring the public that the police would remain professional and impartial in dealing with criminal elements seeking to disrupt the elections.

“Let us collectively ensure that in 2027, the ballot defeats the bullet, ideas defeat intimidation, and democracy defeats violence,” he said.

IRI BACKS GRASSROOTS MOBILISATION

Also speaking, Mr Sunday Alao of the International Republican Institute (IRI) commended the NOA for what he described as a timely and innovative initiative to deepen democratic participation and strengthen civic awareness.

Alao, who conveyed greetings from IRI West Africa Regional Director, Tenta Banks, said the campaign offered an important platform for promoting voter education, peaceful participation and civic engagement, particularly in communities often underserved by such initiatives.

He noted that democracy required more than high voter turnout, stressing that credible elections depended on informed choices, peaceful political competition and respect for democratic values.

According to him, IRI Nigeria was implementing a programme funded by the National Endowment for Democracy to strengthen political parties’ capacity to prevent electoral violence and manage identity-based conflicts.

He explained that the programme was designed to help political party leaders identify early warning signs of electoral violence, manage political disagreements, promote tolerance and encourage peaceful engagement among political actors and their supporters.

Alao emphasised that political party leaders had a responsibility to influence the conduct of their members before, during and after elections.

He urged political parties to promote issue-based campaigns, reject inflammatory rhetoric and hate speech, and respect the democratic rights of all citizens.

The IRI representative also expressed the institute’s readiness to explore partnership opportunities with the NOA to advance the mobilisation campaign, particularly in states where it had funding to support related initiatives.

NOA TAKES CAMPAIGN TO 36 STATES, FCT

Outlining the implementation strategy, the NOA Director-General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the agency would deploy its state directorates across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to ensure that the campaign reached communities at the grassroots.

He explained that the agency would deploy local languages, radio programmes, community dialogues, drama and digital platforms to educate citizens on the importance of electoral participation and the dangers of voter apathy, vote-buying and violence.

Issa-Onilu said the initiative was designed to deepen civic awareness, encourage peaceful electoral participation and ensure that eligible Nigerians understood their responsibility in shaping the country’s democratic future.

He stressed the need for sustained community engagement and stronger collaboration with political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to promote credible and peaceful elections.

The event attracted representatives of political parties, INEC, security agencies, civil society organisations, development partners, government officials, media organisations, National Youth Service Corps members and transport unions, among other stakeholders.

The nationwide campaign is expected to strengthen civic responsibility, discourage electoral malpractice and encourage peaceful political participation as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.