2027: Civic Group Launches iReportINEC Platform to Boost Citizen Election Monitoring

As preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum, the Tap Initiative for Citizens Development has launched iReportINEC, a digital platform designed to strengthen citizen participation, promote electoral transparency, and enhance accountability in Nigeria’s electoral process.

The platform was unveiled in collaboration with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and the National Election Accountability Consortium (NEAC) as part of efforts to deepen democratic governance and encourage greater public involvement in safeguarding the integrity of elections.

In a statement, the Executive Director of the Tap Initiative for Citizens Development, Mr. Mbasekei Martin Obono, described iReportINEC as an innovative civic technology tool that provides Nigerians with a secure and accessible channel to report electoral incidents, monitor reforms, and engage constructively throughout the electoral cycle.

According to him, the platform enables citizens to document and submit reports on a wide range of electoral issues, including voter registration challenges, election-day irregularities, campaign violations, electoral violence, vote-buying, and other practices capable of undermining the credibility of elections.

Obono explained that information gathered through the platform would be systematically analyzed to generate evidence-based insights that could support advocacy efforts, policy reforms, and institutional accountability.

Beyond incident reporting, he said, iReportINEC is designed to bridge the gap between citizens and electoral stakeholders by amplifying the voices of voters and encouraging broader public participation in protecting Nigeria’s democracy.

He noted that the platform also seeks to improve public awareness of electoral rights and responsibilities while promoting timely reporting and fostering a more transparent, responsive, and accountable electoral environment.

“Democracy thrives when citizens are active participants rather than passive observers. iReportINEC empowers Nigerians to play a meaningful role in protecting the integrity of elections by providing a credible platform for reporting electoral concerns and contributing to evidence-based electoral reforms. This initiative reinforces our commitment to strengthening democratic accountability and ensuring that every citizen’s voice matters,” Obono said.

He further stressed that as Nigeria continues to strengthen its democratic institutions, citizen-generated data and independent election monitoring will remain critical to improving electoral integrity.

According to him, by making it easier for Nigerians to report incidents and participate in electoral oversight, iReportINEC complements the work of election management bodies, civil society organisations, election observers, the media, and other stakeholders committed to delivering free, fair, and credible elections.

The organisation called on citizens, political parties, youth groups, community leaders, civil society organisations, election observers, and other democratic actors to actively utilise the platform as a tool for constructive engagement and collective action aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 polls.