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Honorable Adebayo Olusegun Balogun, Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, has emphasized that the outcome of elections is determined at the grassroots level, not by the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Speaking during the program Electoral Reform Hour, the two-time National Assembly member representing Ibeju-Lekki Federal Constituency asserted that while INEC plays a role in election administration, the real contest happens at the polling units.

Hon. Balogun highlighted the National Assembly’s commitment to ensuring a free, fair, credible, and inclusive electoral process in 2027 and beyond. A key focus of the reforms is improving the accreditation process by strengthening the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). According to him, past elections have been marred by over-voting and voter fraud, which BVAS has significantly curtailed. However, further enhancements are necessary to prevent manipulation.

Another major reform under consideration is linking the voter register with the National Identification Number (NIN). Hon. Balogun stated that this integration would clean up the voter database, eliminating duplicate and ineligible registrations. He explained that many voters register multiple times due to misconceptions that a higher voter population attracts more government resources, thereby inflating the register with ‘deadweight’ entries.

The lawmaker also stressed the need for legal reforms to expedite the resolution of electoral disputes. He noted that under the current framework, electoral litigation often drags beyond the swearing-in of elected officials. To address this, proposed constitutional amendments aim to ensure that all election-related cases are resolved before winners assume office.

“We either increase the number of days between elections and swearing-in or reduce the time allocated for litigation,” Balogun explained, adding that frivolous lawsuits must also be discouraged to ease the burden on the judiciary.

Regarding electoral malpractices such as vote buying and election violence, Hon. Balogun argued that stronger laws alone will not solve the problem. Instead, he called for intensified civic education and public awareness to change societal attitudes toward elections.

“Our laws are already stringent. If we enforce them to the letter, many people would end up in jail. The real issue is mindset. People expect financial inducement before voting because of long-standing cultural norms,” he said, urging the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to take a leading role in reorienting voters.

The discussion also touched on Local Government elections conducted by State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), which have often been criticized for lacking credibility. Hon. Balogun advocated for standardized electoral guidelines across states to ensure fairness and uniformity in local government elections.

Speaking on the use of technology in elections, Hon. Balogun praised BVAS for improving voter accreditation but dismissed the controversy surrounding the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV). He clarified that IREV primarily serves as a storage and reference platform rather than a determinant of election outcomes.

“Many people misunderstand the purpose of IREV. The real election results are compiled at the polling units and physically documented. Political parties must ensure they have agents at every polling unit to monitor and document results,” he advised.

Hon. Adebayo Balogun’s insights reinforce the notion that electoral integrity is achieved at the grassroots level. While INEC’s leadership plays a role in overseeing elections, the real battleground remains the polling units. As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections, proposed reforms in accreditation, litigation timelines, electoral offenses, and local government election administration could reshape the democratic process for the better.