NOA Identifies Voter Education Gaps, Moves to Address Them Ahead of 2027
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The National Orientation Agency, NOA, has pledged to intensify voter education ahead of the 2027 general elections, following misconceptions about electoral procedures exposed during the 2023 polls.
The Director-General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said controversies surrounding the voting status of the Federal Capital Territory and confusion over electronic accreditation, voting and transmission of results had exposed significant gaps in citizens’ understanding of the electoral process.
He said the agency was targeting Nigeria’s nearly 100 million registered voters through a nationwide mobilisation campaign aimed at increasing participation and improving public understanding of democratic responsibilities.
Issa-Onilu spoke on Tuesday in Abuja when he received a delegation of the Association of Corporate Online Editors, ACOE, led by its Chairman, Sola Akingboye, on a courtesy visit to the agency.
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He described the 2023 general elections as an eye-opener, saying developments after the polls revealed the need for sustained voter and democracy education, particularly among young Nigerians.
“The last election of 2023 was an eye-opener. Many things came up after the election that showed clearly that there was a huge gap in terms of education, voter education or democracy education,” he said.
The NOA boss specifically identified the confusion between electronic accreditation, electronic voting and electronic transmission of results as an area requiring urgent public enlightenment.
He explained that voting at polling units remained a manual exercise involving ballot papers, sorting and counting, while electronic devices were used for voter accreditation and uploading election results.
According to him, the failure to understand the different stages of the electoral process had fuelled misconceptions and arguments, particularly on social media.
Issa-Onilu disclosed that the agency had commenced a nationwide voter mobilisation campaign about three weeks ago at the NAF Centre, with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, security agencies, development partners and civil society organisations participating.
He said the initiative would combine voter education with sensitisation on peaceful electoral conduct to encourage greater participation in the 2027 elections.
He, however, warned that public distrust in the electoral system could undermine efforts to mobilise voters, noting that citizens who believed their votes would not count might refuse to participate.
“If there is a situation of distrust, it will even affect our job to mobilise people, because if they believe that their votes will not count, they will not come out,” he said.
Issa-Onilu added that NOA was working with INEC to encourage improvements in the electoral process and strengthen public confidence in the commission.
He also urged journalists to promote responsible reporting, cautioning against misinformation capable of creating fear or weakening confidence in democratic institutions.
Earlier, ACOE Chairman, Akingboye, said the association, comprising more than 50 online media organisations, was ready to partner with NOA in expanding voter education and public enlightenment ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said the association’s digital reach and editorial experience would help communicate the agency’s programmes to millions of Nigerians.
Akingboye requested timely access to official information, media tours of NOA’s state and zonal offices and periodic engagements with its leadership to strengthen accurate reporting.
He also invited the agency to partner with ACOE as a platinum sponsor of its public lecture scheduled for November 19, 2026, and requested that Issa-Onilu deliver the keynote address.
