The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to free, fair and credible general elections in 2027.
Speaking in an interview with Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) World on the sidelines of the TRT World Forum 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Friday, Idris said the Tinubu administration will continue to support the democratic process and strengthen the institutions responsible for delivering credible elections, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), while respecting its constitutional independence.
“Let me assure Nigerians and the international community that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is fully committed to free, fair and credible elections in 2027,” Idris said.
“We will continue to support the democratic process and ensure that the will of the Nigerian people prevails,” he added.
His remarks come as the nation prepares for an election cycle likely to test the credibility of its institutions, the capacity of its security agencies and the resilience of its information environment.
The Federal Government has previously said that election integrity depends not only on polling day, but also on security, institutional credibility, political conduct, media professionalism and the quality of information available to voters.
Idris said the administration was intensifying measures to address insecurity, including recruiting additional military personnel and procuring equipment to strengthen the Armed Forces’ operational capacity.
He described those steps as part of the government’s effort to create conditions for a peaceful election.
The Minister’s assurance follows earlier government messaging that security and information conditions are central to the credibility of the 2027 vote.
In August, Idris said the government was working to strengthen both the security environment and the information landscape needed for peaceful, transparent elections.
Idris also warned against fake news, misinformation and unverified reporting as political activity intensifies.
He urged citizens, political actors and journalists to verify information before sharing it, saying false claims could inflame tensions and erode public confidence in the electoral process.
He acknowledged that artificial intelligence could improve public communication, government service delivery and access to information, but cautioned that the technology could also be used to create deepfakes, manipulate content and spread disinformation.
Turning to economic policy, the Information Minister defended the administration’s use of borrowing to finance infrastructure and development, arguing that the central question is not whether a country borrows, but whether its debt finances productive investment.
“Borrowing is not a crime,” he said.
“Countries across the world, whether developed or developing, borrow to invest in their future.
What matters is the purpose of such borrowing and the value it creates.”
He described government borrowing as an investment in infrastructure, economic opportunity and long-term growth, and said the administration’s policies were intended to expand infrastructure and create sustainable jobs.
The Minister is attending the TRT World Forum at the invitation of the Turkish government.
He praised the gathering as a venue for leaders, policymakers and scholars to exchange ideas on global challenges at a time of heightened uncertainty.
In another development, INEC said it is committed to conducting a free, fair, transparent, inclusive and credible 2027 election, while calling for early preparation, cooperation among stakeholders and active voter participation.
