The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has warned politicians, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, NYSC members and security personnel against attempting to manipulate the 2027 general elections.
Ayodele issued the warning in a video message in which he described the 2027 election as an important opportunity for Nigerians to seek changes through the ballot. He said electoral officials and other participants should avoid actions that could undermine the credibility of the exercise.
The cleric warned that anyone involved in rigging the election would face what he described as consequences extending to future generations.
“If you’re a politician, INEC official, NYSC member or security operative, and you ever take a step to rig the 2027 election, your generation after generation will be cursed,” Ayodele said.
He also said the 2027 poll would be significant for Nigeria, describing it as an opportunity to “remodify Nigeria” amid what he characterised as public frustration over years of political challenges.
Ayodele stated that he was not affiliated with any political party and said his comments were based on his observations about the country and its electoral process.
The warning comes as political parties, electoral authorities and other stakeholders intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections. Concerns about electoral malpractice, vote-buying, violence, technology failures and the transparency of result collation remain part of public discussions surrounding the next polls.
Earlier in 2026, Ayodele had also warned INEC to strengthen its electronic systems ahead of the election, particularly the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. He cautioned that failures in electronic result transmission could create opportunities for manipulation.
The issue is significant because the credibility of Nigeria’s elections depends not only on voters but also on the conduct of electoral officials, political actors and security agencies.
Nigeria is scheduled to hold its next general election in 2027, with voters expected to elect the president, governors, National Assembly members and state legislators. The preparations have already renewed debate over electoral reforms, transparency and public confidence in the democratic process.
