By Osaretin Osadebamwen
House of Representatives candidate for the AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency on the platform of the African Action Congress (AAC), Hon. Netochukwu Ozzoude, has called on political parties to embark on extensive and structured voter education ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ozzoude said political parties must work closely with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that voters are adequately informed about electoral procedures, particularly polling-unit locations, before election day.
He made the call while speaking on preparations for the 2027 elections, stressing that voter education would be critical to preventing confusion and unnecessary obstacles that could discourage citizens from participating in the electoral process.
According to him, recent experiences with polling-unit changes demonstrate why voters need timely and accurate information before going to the polls. He disclosed that he was personally affected by a recent change in polling-unit location.
“I was personally affected by the changes. A few days ago, I received a message informing me that my polling unit had been relocated,” he said.
Although the relocation did not take him outside his immediate area, Ozzoude said the development underscored the importance of ensuring that voters are properly informed ahead of elections.
“Fortunately, it remained within the same area, but the change still required attention,” he said.
He therefore urged political parties to make voter awareness a central component of their preparations for the 2027 elections, rather than waiting until the final days before voting.
“This is why voter education is critical,” Ozzoude said, arguing that political parties have an important responsibility to ensure their supporters understand where and how they are expected to vote.
“Political parties must undertake extensive voter awareness campaigns to ensure that voters know where to verify their polling units before election day,” he added.
Ozzoude also placed responsibility on INEC to make voter information readily available and easily accessible to citizens. He said the electoral commission should ensure that voters can conveniently verify their polling locations and obtain the information required to participate in elections.
“INEC also has a responsibility to make voter information readily available and accessible,” he said.
The AAC candidate said the need for structured voter education becomes even more important because of the possibility of movement restrictions during elections. According to him, voters need sufficient notice of their polling locations to make appropriate arrangements before election day.
“Given the likelihood of movement restrictions during elections, voters need to know their polling locations in advance so they can make proper arrangements,” he said.
Ozzoude’s position comes as Nigeria’s electoral authorities and political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections. INEC has continued to engage political parties and other stakeholders as the country moves towards the next general election, with the commission emphasising the importance of stakeholder cooperation in delivering credible polls.
The candidate said voter education should not be viewed merely as an INEC responsibility, arguing that political parties, as major participants in elections, must actively contribute to ensuring that citizens understand the electoral process.
He further called for closer cooperation between the electoral commission and political parties to eliminate information gaps that could undermine voter participation. “Ultimately, both INEC and political parties must work together to ensure that voters are well informed and able to exercise their democratic rights without unnecessary obstacles,” he said.
Ozzoude’s call also comes against concerns over voter apathy ahead of the 2027 elections. Recent discussions around electoral participation have highlighted declining voter turnout as a major challenge, making effective voter education increasingly important to ensuring that registered voters are able and willing to participate.
He maintained that adequate preparation and timely dissemination of information could help prevent situations in which voters arrive at polling units only to discover that their locations have changed or that they lack essential information about the voting process.
For Ozzoude, ensuring that voters are informed before election day is part of protecting their democratic rights and strengthening confidence in the electoral process.
He consequently urged INEC and political parties to begin structured voter education early and sustain it throughout the electoral cycle, rather than treating voter awareness as a last-minute campaign activity.
The candidate said a properly informed electorate would be better positioned to participate peacefully and effectively in the 2027 elections, insisting that both electoral authorities and political parties must do everything possible to remove avoidable barriers to voting.
