The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has pledged to intensify grassroots sensitisation and civic education to promote peaceful, credible and inclusive elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Kogi State Director of the Agency, Mrs Ayedime Alli Aileku, gave the assurance while speaking at a one-day Election Risk Management Sensitisation Workshop organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state capital.
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The workshop brought together Electoral Officers from the 21 Local Government Areas, representatives of security agencies and NOA Programme Officers to assess the political and security situation ahead of the elections and identify potential flashpoints.
Mrs Aileku said the agency would strengthen community engagement to encourage peaceful participation, political tolerance and responsible civic behaviour before, during and after the elections.
She explained that the 2027 elections go beyond casting ballots, stressing that protecting the nation’s democracy requires early warning mechanisms, proactive engagement and collective responsibility.
According to her, NOA would work closely with traditional and religious leaders, youth groups and market associations to promote peaceful coexistence and discourage electoral violence.
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The Director disclosed that the workshop provided an opportunity for stakeholders to identify areas vulnerable to political thuggery, vote buying and other electoral malpractices across the 21 LGAs.
She said the agency would deploy its community-based officers to the identified flashpoints to conduct targeted sensitisation, dialogue, civic education and campaigns against misinformation.
Mrs Aileku also called for stronger collaboration among relevant agencies, urging security personnel to remain professional and impartial while INEC sustains transparency in the electoral process.
She further tasked NOA Programme Officers with developing state-specific action plans to translate the workshop’s resolutions into practical grassroots activities.
Participants identified political thuggery, hate speech, communal tensions and desperation among political actors as some of the major threats to peaceful elections.
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They recommended sustained voter education, early warning systems, community dialogue, youth engagement and media literacy campaigns as measures to address the identified risks.
The workshop ended with stakeholders resolving to strengthen continuous engagement, information sharing and joint risk assessment to prevent electoral violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.