The Polling Unit Ambassadors of Nigeria (PUAN), a civil society organisation, has unveiled an election monitoring application and called for partnerships to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The PUAN Ambassador General, Captain Dabas Suleiman, made the call on Friday in Abuja during the unveiling of the PUAN App.
The application is designed to enhance citizen participation and promote electoral transparency across the nation’s polling units.
Suleiman urged government institutions, electoral stakeholders, political parties, civil society organisations, development partners, the diplomatic community, traditional institutions, community leaders, technology experts, the media and citizens to partner with PUAN to strengthen democratic institutions.
“Let us use technology to bring citizens closer to democratic processes, information to empower rather than manipulate, data responsibly, and promote fact-based civic engagement; let us use our platforms to promote peace, not hatred, and our influence to build Nigeria,” he said.
He described the launch as a significant step towards leveraging technology to strengthen democratic accountability and grassroots participation in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Suleiman said the launch was timely, given the need for credible elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Today, we are launching an idea that technology can strengthen citizenship, that responsible citizens can use technology to promote transparency, accountability, peace and participation.
“An idea that every polling unit, every community, every citizen, and every vote matters and must count,” he said.
Suleiman explained that PUAN’s vision was to build a new Nigeria from the polling unit level, describing polling units as critical spaces where democracy directly interacts with citizens.
“The polling unit is where citizens exercise their constitutional rights to vote, where political participation becomes real, and where trust in democracy can either be strengthened or weakened,” he said.
“If we want to transform Nigeria, we must begin where democracy touches the ordinary citizens, from the polling units to the ward, local government, state and ultimately across the nation.”
He also stressed the importance of community-level accountability, saying voters should know the candidates seeking their support.
Speaking later at a news conference, PUAN Secretary-General, Prince Osa Osaghae, said technology could help bridge the gap between voter participation and electoral outcomes.
“Voters in Nigeria have been doing quite a lot, but the question is, what has it been translating to?” Osaghae asked.
“Every election and the conduct starts at the polling unit, which determines how the election is actually seen from every angle.”
He said PUAN planned to deploy technology to increase participation and provide greater visibility into activities at polling units.
“For the first time, technology will be deployed in the Osun State election to eliminate dark spots in polling units and ensure comprehensive observation,” Osaghae said.
He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be more transparent in its processes, noting that international observers would be closely monitoring the commission’s conduct.
“The umpire will be observed by the whole world because the whole world will be looking at it live and direct—what is happening at the polling unit community,” he said.
Delivering a keynote address titled “Building a Stronger Democracy for Nigeria,” the Founder of Horizon International University, Efon Alaaye, Ekiti State, Professor Michael Abiodun Ajibade, described the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election as a critical test for Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
“The foundation of any strong democracy is not merely the act of voting, but the sanctity and credibility of the entire electoral process,” Ajibade said.
He expressed concern over escalating political tensions, citing reports of more than 20 deaths in politically motivated violence ahead of the election.
“The Osun election is more than a regional contest; it is a national referendum on the health of our democratic institutions. This is an unacceptable price to pay for political ambition,” he cautioned.
The PUAN initiative is aimed at promoting citizen-led electoral observation and using technology to enhance transparency, accountability and participation in Nigeria’s democratic process.