The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State has pledged to strengthen measures to curb vote-buying, illicit campaign financing and different electoral offences forward of the 2027 basic elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) within the state, Professor Ayobami Salami, disclosed this on Tuesday throughout a press briefing on the fee’s preparations for the elections.
Salami stated INEC was collaborating with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the National Electoral Integrity Unit (NEIU) and the Federal Ministry of Justice to deal with electoral offences.
He added that engagements with political events on monetary reporting, auditing and compliance with campaign finance rules could be intensified between October 28, 2026, and January 1, 2027.
The REC urged political events, candidates and their supporters to conduct their actions peacefully and in accordance with the legislation.
As a part of efforts to enhance voter entry to Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), Salami introduced the introduction of a QR code to assist eligible voters find designated assortment centres throughout Lagos State.
“INEC Lagos State Office has also provided a QR code to help voters locate designated PVC collection centres. I encourage eligible voters to collect their cards promptly and safeguard them, as the PVC remains essential for accreditation on Election Day,” he stated.
Salami stated PVCs have been out there for residents who registered between August 25 and December 10, 2025, in addition to those that registered between 2011 and 2022 however had but to gather their playing cards.
He clarified, nonetheless, that PVCs for residents who registered between January 5 and July 26, 2026, weren’t but out there. He stated the fee would announce when the playing cards have been prepared via its official communication channels.
On info integrity, the REC expressed concern over the rising use of misinformation, disinformation, deepfakes and synthetic intelligence-generated content material, warning that such practices might undermine public confidence within the electoral course of.
He urged media organisations to confirm electoral info via official INEC channels earlier than publication, significantly studies regarding electoral procedures, fee choices and election outcomes.
“Unofficial projections and privately collated figures must not be presented as results formally declared by authorised electoral officials,” he stated.
Salami disclosed that the media accreditation portal for the 2027 elections was anticipated to develop into operational earlier than the top of October, including that additional tips could be introduced via the fee’s official channels.
He stated preparations have been additionally ongoing for the recruitment, coaching and deployment of electoral personnel, whereas a mock accreditation and election simulation train had been scheduled for November 2026 to assess the fee’s readiness.
On logistics, the REC stated electoral personnel and supplies could be deployed throughout 176,846 polling models and eight,809 registration areas nationwide, with help from greater than 100,000 autos and roughly 4,000 boats.
He stated delicate election supplies have been anticipated to attain native authorities areas 72 hours earlier than Election Day, whereas deployment to Registration Area Centres and Super Registration Area Centres could be accomplished by 4 p.m. on the eve of the election.
According to him, INEC’s preparations in Lagos take into consideration the state’s inhabitants density, visitors congestion, riverine communities and different logistical challenges.
He stated the fee was addressing transportation, storage, electoral services, personnel deployment and contingency preparations to be certain that polling models commenced operations as scheduled.
The REC additionally recognized voter training and inclusive participation as key priorities, significantly amongst girls, younger folks and individuals with disabilities.
He stated the fee’s VEP 2027 Election Project Plan would broaden grassroots engagement via group conferences, interactions with tertiary establishments, public debates, cell cinema and collaboration with the National Orientation Agency.
Accessibility measures, he added, would come with Braille supplies, EC30 posters, magnifying glasses and sign-language interpretation at state collation centres.
Salami stated voter training would proceed throughout communities, markets, academic establishments, non secular organisations and different platforms in Lagos, whereas enhancements have been being made to digital end result transmission and administration.
On election safety, he stated the Nigeria Police Force, because the lead company, was coordinating with different safety and intelligence companies via the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
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