The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned political parties and candidates against vote buying ahead of the 2027 general elections, assuring stakeholders that preparations for the polls are well underway.

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Anambra State, Dr. Queen Elizabeth Agwu, gave the warning on Friday at a stakeholders’ meeting attended by leaders and representatives of political parties, candidates, community leaders, and the media.

“We will monitor vote buying, and we are urging people to report vote buyers. I have never witnessed one, but we call on those who notice it to report to us.

“The money you will use to buy votes, why not give it to the people during election campaigns and tell them what you will do for them? This is the time to campaign. It is not INEC that engages in vote buying, and it is not done by the police or other organisations, but by political parties. All parties are engaged in vote buying, and at the end, you blame INEC and want us to stop it when you are the ones doing it.”

Agwu said INEC would pay close attention to candidates’ spending during the 2027 general elections and warned that those involved in vote buying would be prosecuted.

She said: “We don’t want a repeat of what happened during the 2025 governorship election in Anambra State, where people were talking about families and other matters away from the election. INEC will not accept it.

“We will not tolerate a campaign of calumny. Campaigns have been lifted, and we expect candidates to go into the field and tell the people what they can do. It is immaterial if a candidate is impotent or if a candidate’s wife’s last child is not the candidate’s; it is immaterial. Just tell the people what you will do for them.”

The REC also expressed confidence in the Commission’s preparedness for the next general elections.

“INEC is ready for the coming elections, and we have made adequate preparations, and I want to assure you there will be no glitches in the 2027 elections. I told you people so during the Anambra governorship election, and it came to pass, so I’m promising you again that there will be no glitches in the coming election.

“It’s 97 days to elections, and we are ready. We want the political parties and their candidates to prepare early enough too.

“We beg you not to engage thugs; if you don’t get to power today, you will get it tomorrow. Election is about planning. You must plan; you must engage the people; you don’t just jump out hoping to win because you have paid young boys to disrupt the process for you. We want to assure you that plans are in place, and very soon, election malpractice would be a thing of the past.”

Speaking about her experience managing elections in Anambra since the 2023 general election, Agwu said the state had maintained a record of credible polls.

“In Anambra, we do free, fair, credible, inclusive and conclusive elections,” she said, assuring stakeholders that INEC was prepared for the next general election.

The REC urged candidates to focus on explaining their programmes and plans to voters rather than engaging in vote buying.

“Let the candidates tell us who they are and what they want to do. That is what the campaign is about. I beg political parties to do their campaigns peacefully and orderly,” Agwu said.

She reiterated her warning against vote buying and called on political parties to ensure that their campaigns were peaceful and orderly.

Agwu again assured stakeholders that there would be no glitches during the election, declaring, “INEC is ready.”

She also announced that the Commission’s online portal was open for applications for various ad hoc positions and encouraged qualified residents of Anambra State to apply.