2027: Tinubu govt assures Nigerians of free, fair, credible elections

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that the 2027 general elections are free, fair and credible, assuring Nigerians and the international community that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will continue to strengthen the country’s democratic institutions.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, gave the assurance during an interview with TRT World, Türkiye’s international broadcaster, on the sidelines of the TRT World Forum 2026 in Istanbul.

The forum, which commenced on Friday, November 6, 2026, was held under the theme, “A World Without a Centre: Who Leads When the Rules Run Out?”

Idris said the Tinubu administration was determined to support Nigeria’s democratic process by providing the necessary assistance to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), while respecting the commission’s constitutional independence.

He stressed that the government would continue to create an enabling environment for INEC to carry out its responsibilities effectively and ensure that the wishes of voters are respected.

“Let me assure Nigerians and the international community that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is fully committed to free, fair and credible elections in 2027. We will continue to support the democratic process and ensure that the will of the Nigerian people prevails,” the Minister said.

Addressing concerns over insecurity and its potential impact on the forthcoming elections, the Information Minister said the Federal Government was stepping up efforts to tackle security challenges across the country.

He pointed to President Tinubu’s efforts to strengthen the country’s security architecture through the recruitment of additional military personnel and the acquisition of equipment to improve the operational capabilities of the Armed Forces.

On democratic rights, Idris maintained that the administration remained committed to protecting political participation and press freedom, describing freedom of expression as a fundamental pillar of democracy.

However, he warned against the circulation of fake news, misinformation and unverified reports, particularly as political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.

He appealed to Nigerians, political stakeholders and media organisations to verify information before publishing or sharing it, warning that the trend of fake news could create unnecessary tension and weaken public confidence in the electoral process.

The Minister also discussed the growing role of Artificial Intelligence, AI, in journalism and governance, acknowledging its potential to improve communication, public service delivery and access to information.

Nevertheless, he cautioned that the technology could pose serious challenges if used to create deepfakes, distort information or deliberately mislead the public.