The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to creating a secure environment for the conduct of peaceful, credible and transparent elections in 2027.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, gave the assurance during the eighth Public Lecture, Impact Series and Awards of Excellence organised by Blueprint Newspapers in Abuja.
The event, themed “Security Challenges and Integrity of Nigeria’s 2027 Elections,” brought together policymakers, security experts, media practitioners and political stakeholders to discuss emerging threats to Nigeria’s electoral process.
Idris stated that the credibility of elections depends not only on activities on election day but also on the broader political, security and information environment in which elections are conducted.
According to him, the administration of President Bola Tinubu remains committed to safeguarding lives and property while strengthening institutions responsible for protecting Nigeria’s democracy.
The minister said the government would continue investing in personnel, technology and operational resources needed to combat terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other security threats capable of undermining public confidence in elections.
He also expressed concern over the growing threat posed by misinformation and disinformation, particularly with advances in artificial intelligence technology that make it easier to create fake videos, images and audio recordings.
Idris warned that false information could erode trust in democratic institutions and influence public perception during election periods.
To address the challenge, he disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, in partnership with UNESCO and other stakeholders, established the International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI) in Abuja.
The institute, he explained, is expected to enhance citizens’ ability to identify false information and promote responsible media consumption ahead of future elections.
Former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdul’Aziz Yari, who chaired the event, emphasised that election security should not be left solely to security agencies, noting that all stakeholders have a role to play in protecting democracy.
Similarly, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), represented by Major General Olufemi Akinjobi, said election security must now extend beyond physical protection of polling units to addressing cyber threats, misinformation campaigns and attempts to undermine confidence in democratic institutions.
Stakeholders at the event agreed that strengthening security, promoting media literacy and encouraging responsible political conduct would be critical to ensuring successful elections in 2027.
