Primate Elijah Ayodele, the leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has issued a stern warning to Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urging the commission to fortify its digital infrastructure ahead of the 2027 general elections. The cleric specifically called on INEC to protect its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal from potential cyberattacks and operational failures.
Call to Safeguard Electronic Systems
In a statement released through his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, Ayodele stressed that any breakdown in electronic result transmission could create opportunities for rigging and erode public confidence in the electoral process. He warned that hackers might target INEC's servers, and manual fallback procedures could be exploited by bad actors.
According to Ayodele, "INEC should work seriously on its server so it won't be hacked during the election. There will be some places where IReV won't work, and when it's done manually, it will lead to rigging. INEC must be careful so that nothing will go wrong in the election."
Risk of Bribery and Fraud
The cleric also cautioned INEC to vigilantly monitor its own personnel, noting that electoral officials are likely to face financial inducements aimed at compromising the vote. He emphasized that the commission would be held accountable by Nigerians if any manipulation occurs.
"Nigerians will hold INEC responsible if anything goes wrong in the election. The commission must talk to its officials not to be involved in any shady deal regarding the election. There is no way they won't try to induce them with money, but they must stand their ground because if any manipulation is detected, INEC will pay heavily for it," Ayodele added.
Eleven States Flagged for High Electoral Risk
Ayodele went further by naming 11 states where he foresees heightened risks of electoral irregularities if preventive measures are not reinforced. These states include Nasarawa, Niger, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, Yobe, Cross River, Oyo, Enugu, Adamawa, and Lagos. He urged INEC to deploy enhanced monitoring and training resources to these areas.
"Everyone must watch well in these areas in order not to have issues. There will be some foul play in these states. INEC's server needs to be protected, and the commission must do the needful; if not, we will witness so many irregularities. The officials of INEC must be trained to avoid fraud or any other form of atrocities," he said.
Wider Context of Electoral Security Concerns
Ayodele has a long history of making public pronouncements on political matters, elections, and governance in Nigeria. His latest warning comes amid broader concerns about electoral integrity following previous incidents of technical failures and security breaches in past elections. The 2023 general elections, for instance, saw significant challenges with the IReV portal, leading to widespread criticism.
The cleric's warning also echoes growing concerns about the political exploitation of insecurity, including mass kidnappings that have shadowed recent election cycles. While President Bola Tinubu's administration has recorded some successes in rescuing abducted victims, the underlying security challenges remain a threat to free and fair elections.
Implications for the 2027 Elections
INEC has yet to officially respond to Ayodele's warning, but the commission has previously pledged to improve its technology and staff training for future elections. Political analysts note that the 11 states flagged by Ayodele include key battlegrounds where electoral violence and fraud have historically occurred. The warning serves as a call for proactive measures to safeguard democracy in Nigeria.
