NEWS
2027 Election Already Rigged, INEC Must Act Now to Clean Up Voters’ Register – Seun Okinbaloye Sounds Alarm
Nigerian journalist and Channels Television anchor, Seun Okinbaloye, has raised a serious alarm over the credibility of Nigeria’s 2027 general election, warning that alleged electoral manipulation may have already begun long before voters head to the polls.
Okinbaloye, who expressed his concerns during the closing segment of Channels Television’s Politics Today, called for urgent action to address alleged irregularities surrounding the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) voters’ register, stressing that the integrity of an election depends on the transparency of the entire electoral process, not merely what happens on election day.
The veteran broadcaster cautioned Nigerians against assuming that electoral malpractice occurs only during the actual voting exercise, arguing that weaknesses in the process could be exploited months before the election if the appropriate authorities fail to intervene.
In his closing remarks, Okinbaloye warned that the alleged manipulation of the electoral process was already underway and urged citizens to speak up and demand accountability before it becomes too late to address potential irregularities.
“This is my parting word tonight, the election is usually not rigged on election day, don’t get it wrong. And whatever you may be, jumping around all of the town halls and the political podiums and platforms, the rigging of the election has in fact begun very few months ago and is still much on course.
“If you don’t take action and speak up now, forget it, 2027 election is already rigged and this is time to clean it up and make sure that it doesn’t happen.
“That’s how we close the program tonight everyone and thanks for watching, I’m Seun Okinbaloye, God bless Nigeria.”
The journalist’s remarks have drawn attention to the importance of scrutinising the electoral process well ahead of the 2027 general election, particularly the management and integrity of the national voters’ register.
The register is a critical component of any election because it determines who is eligible to vote and provides the foundation for planning and conducting the exercise. Concerns over its accuracy, including the possibility of duplicate, ineligible or improperly registered voters, can undermine public confidence if they are not transparently investigated and resolved.
Okinbaloye’s warning also highlights the need for sustained public oversight, credible electoral safeguards and timely intervention by the relevant authorities. Addressing potential problems before election day, rather than waiting until voting begins, is essential to ensuring that any irregularities are identified and corrected in accordance with the law.
As political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 polls, INEC faces growing public expectations to demonstrate its preparedness, strengthen confidence in the electoral system and ensure that the electoral process remains transparent, inclusive and credible.
However, while Okinbaloye’s comments reflect his concerns about the state of the electoral process, his allegation that the 2027 election has already been rigged remains an assertion that would require independent evidence and investigation. No specific evidence establishing that the election has already been rigged was provided in the remarks reproduced above.
His intervention nevertheless reinforces a central question ahead of the next general election: what concrete steps will electoral authorities, political parties, civil society organisations and citizens take now to ensure that Nigerians can participate in a credible election and have confidence in the outcome?
With the 2027 general election approaching, the call for early scrutiny of the voters’ register and other electoral preparations places the spotlight on INEC and the need to address legitimate concerns before they threaten public trust in the democratic process.