Featured, Politics
By Anthony Isibor
AS political alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections gather momentum, fresh efforts are emerging from opposition figures, civil society groups and politically active Nigerians determined to prevent a repeat of the controversies that trailed the 2023 presidential election.
At the centre of the renewed push is political economist and opposition figure, Pat Utomi, who says the newly aligned Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, and allied civic groups are preparing what he described as a nationwide citizen-driven electoral monitoring structure designed to “checkmate” alleged manipulation of election results.
Speaking on the proposed strategy, Utomi declared that opposition forces would no longer rely solely on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s systems for result management.
“We in NDC are setting up our own IREVs. That would be transmitted live on CNN, Al-Jazeera, BBC, Fox News and all the credible local news channels in Nigeria,” Utomi said.
He further revealed plans to deploy what he called “colonies of polling unit agents” across Nigeria’s over 170,000 polling units to ensure votes are protected at the grassroots level.
“And we will be mounting colonies of polling unit agents in each polling units across the length and breadth of Nigeria that has the numbers that would enable them not to be intimidated,” he added.
The comments reflect a growing determination among opposition supporters and civil society organisations to avoid a repeat of the technological failures and disputes that followed the 2023 elections, particularly the controversy surrounding INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
The debate over electronic transmission remains one of the most politically sensitive issues heading into 2027.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has repeatedly faced criticism over the delayed uploading of presidential election results in 2023, a development many Nigerians claimed damaged public trust in the electoral process.
Although INEC has insisted it is improving its systems ahead of the next elections, concerns remain widespread. Earlier this year, the commission assured Nigerians that there would be “no glitch” in the transmission of results in 2027 and pledged improved technological testing and deployment.
At the same time, debates within the National Assembly over electronic transmission provisions in the Electoral Act have intensified political tensions. Some lawmakers have supported stronger mandatory electronic transmission measures, while others backed the provisions that retain manual alternatives.
But Utomi and allied groups argue that the stakes are too high for Nigerians to simply trust official assurances.
Utomi disclosed plans by the civil society organisations to create a “parallel IReV” system capable of independently tracking and publishing polling unit results in real time.
According to him, the initiative will operate within constitutional freedoms and provide transparency for citizens monitoring the electoral process.
Political observers say the strategy reflects lessons learned from 2023, when many young Nigerians actively participated in election monitoring, voter mobilisation and result collation efforts, but later expressed frustration over inconsistencies in result transmission.
Across social media platforms and online communities, Nigerians are already debating how to safeguard votes in 2027.
On Reddit discussions involving opposition supporters and politically active citizens, several Nigerians spoke openly about their experiences during the 2023 elections and the need for stronger citizen participation in future polls.
Political commentators have suggested personally supervising polling units, escorting election materials and helping to monitor collation centres during the last election cycle, insisting that citizens must become more organised ahead of 2027 polls.
Others argued that beyond technology, voter protection would require massive grassroots mobilisation, legal monitoring teams, trained polling agents, and widespread civic education to resist intimidation and vote-buying.
The growing conversations also reflect deepening public distrust in institutions managing elections. While some Nigerians believe technology can improve transparency, others insist that technology alone cannot guarantee credible polls without political will, accountability, and enforcement of electoral laws.
Meanwhile, the NDC, which is now positioning itself as a major opposition platform ahead of the 2027 polls, has continued to expand its organisational structure nationwide. The party recently announced new committees and strategic preparations as coalition talks intensify across the opposition space.
For many Nigerians, however, the conversation goes beyond party politics. The memories of the 2023 election controversies continue to shape public expectations, especially among young voters who see 2027 as another defining test for Nigeria’s democracy.
As preparations quietly begin, one message appears to be resonating across opposition circles and civic groups alike: the protection of votes can no longer be left entirely to institutions alone.
Whether the proposed parallel monitoring systems, expanded polling unit presence and citizen-led oversight mechanisms will significantly alter the electoral landscape remains uncertain. But what is already clear is that the battle for electoral credibility in 2027 has long begun.
A.I
May 28, 2026
Tags: NDC Pat Utomi