Abstract
The effectiveness of democratic participation in Nigeria is inextricably tied to the robustness of voter education programmes, particularly those implemented by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Extant literature has investigated how well the content of INEC’s VEPs addresses critical democratic competencies, such as electoral procedures, rights awareness, civic responsibility, and resistance to electoral manipulation. This study critically evaluates the content adequacy, audience alignment, challenges, and reform prospects of INEC’s voter education initiatives in Nigeria’s evolving democracy. The study adopts a qualitative content analysis and expert interviews to assess the coherence between programme objectives and the information needs of voters. The finding revealed that the content of INEC VEP was not adequate, average aligns with the audience, INEC faces, including funding and logistic challenges. Also, the result suggests that while INEC’s VEPs have improved in scope and technological adaptation, they often lack depth, contextual sensitivity, and long-term civic orientation. The study explained the urgency of reforming voter education to go beyond episodic election messaging and towards a more integrated, inclusive, and participatory civic learning framework. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for enhancing electoral literacy through curriculum redesign, strategic media partnerships, decentralised outreach, and youth-driven innovations, positioning voter education as a foundational pillar of democratic consolidation in Nigeria and across Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Boeke, D. (2012). Vote buying and violence in Nigeria election campaigns. Electoral Studies, 27(4), 621–632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electstud.2008.04.013
- Donneys, C. O., Arbelaez, E., Londoño Isaza, K., Hernández Zúñiga, I., Alegría, I., Castellanos, A. I., . . . Perea, J. D. (2024). Integrating Colombian Pacific Traditional Knowledge and Gender-Inclusive to Enhance STEM Education: The BECAP Initiative. European Journal of STEM Education, 9(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.20897/ejsteme/15748
- Fikejzová, M., & Charvát, M. (2025). ‘Fully Electrified Kitchen is all That a Modern Emancipated Woman Needs’: The Feminist Techno-Utopia in The Interwar Czechoslovak Women’s Magazine Eva. Feminist Encounters: A Journal of Critical Studies in Culture and Politics, 9(2), 21. https://doi.org/10.20897/femenc/16779
- Igiebor, G. (2022). Political alienation and electoral participation in Nigeria's democratization process: A survey of voter behavior in the 2019 general elections. African Journal of Political Science, 10(2), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.36615/ajps.v10i2.1337
- Ijeh, P. N., & Abimbola, R. O. (2023). Mass media, voter education, and the 2023 general elections in Nigeria. Abraka Humanities Review, 13(1), 45–60. Retrieved from https://www.ajol.info
- Mohammed, I., Enganya, Y., & Adi, E. (2024). Opinion polls, election surveys, and voter apathy in 2023 Nigeria’s presidential election. African Social Science and Humanities Journal, 5(1), 22–40. https://doi.org/10.4314/asshj.v5i1.1
- Morales, M. (2020). Is the Low Electoral Turnout of Indigenous People a Myth? Evidence from Subnational Elections in Chile, 2012-2017. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies, 8(1), 107–128. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejecs/605
- Mudau, P. (2022). Promoting civic and voter education through the use of technological systems during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. African Human Rights Law Journal, 21(2), 480–495. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/1996-2096/2022/v22n1a5
- Musa Usman, M. (2023). Rethinking the Independent National Electoral Commission’s voter education content and approaches for effective voter inclusiveness and participation. Journal of Electoral Studies and Democracy, 2(1), 55–72. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu
- Nwali, R. C., & Nwogbaga, D. M. E. (2019). Voter education and political participation in Nigeria: A comparative analysis of the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections. African Journal of Politics and Administrative Studies, 12(2), 87–104.
- Nweke, K. N., & Inyang, E. E. (2020). National elections and political apathy: A comparative study of voter turnout in the 2019 general elections of Nigeria and South Africa. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 5(12), 110–122. https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.512.8003
- Ochi, I. B., Ezeh, K. D., & Akogwu, C. J. (2023). E-voting and electoral credibility in Nigeria: A study of Anambra State 2021 gubernatorial election. University of Nigeria Journal of Political Economy, 13(2), 70–88. Retrieved from https://www.unjpe.com
- Odionye, C. M., Yare, M. D., Okachi, E. L. W., Odoh, V. O., & Holiness, J. (2024). Assessment of NTA voter education programmes on the awareness and participation in 2023 general elections among residents of Ughelli South LGA, Delta State, Nigeria. Ianna Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 5(1), 101–118. https://doi.org/10.84761/c77d5y74
- Ogunmokun, A. S., Ayanlade, O. S., & Olaposi, T. O. (2024). Understanding the impacts of electoral technologies on Nigeria’s electoral system. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 8(3), 233–245. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.803183
- Omoniyi, T. O. (2023). Independent National Electoral Commission voters education programme and election-related violence among youths of voting age in southwestern Nigeria (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
- Osayi, O. F. (2024). Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the conduct of elections in Nigeria: A comparative analysis of Maurice Iwu and Attahiru Jega’s administration. African Journal of Politics and Administrative Studies, 17(1), 40–58. https://doi.org/10.4314/ajpas.v17i1.26
- Oyoru, R. A. (2023). An assessment of factors responsible for low voter turnout in Nigeria: A literature review. Kashere Journal of Politics and International Relations, 1(1), 1–15.
- Ubong, B. A. (2024). Audience evaluation of INEC Half Hour programme on AIT and voter education: Focus on the 2023 general elections. African Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Research, 7(3), 145–162. https://doi.org/10.52589/AJSSHR-9S8KO0XS
- von Borzyskowski, I., & Kuhn, P. M. (2020). Dangerously informed: Voter information and pre-electoral violence in Africa. Journal of Peace Research, 57(1), 163–178. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022343319885166
AMA 10th edition
In-text citation: (1), (2), (3), etc.
Reference: Omoniyi TO. Redefining Electoral Literacy: An Appraisal of Content Adequacy, Audience Alignment, and Reform Prospects in INEC’s Voter Education Programmes (VEP).
Asia Pacific Journal of Education and Society. 2025;13(2), 1.
https://doi.org/10.20897/apjes/17299
APA 6th edition
In-text citation: (Omoniyi, 2025)
Reference: Omoniyi, T. O. (2025). Redefining Electoral Literacy: An Appraisal of Content Adequacy, Audience Alignment, and Reform Prospects in INEC’s Voter Education Programmes (VEP).
Asia Pacific Journal of Education and Society, 13(2), 1.
https://doi.org/10.20897/apjes/17299
Chicago
In-text citation: (Omoniyi, 2025)
Reference: Omoniyi, Timilehin Olayinka. "Redefining Electoral Literacy: An Appraisal of Content Adequacy, Audience Alignment, and Reform Prospects in INEC’s Voter Education Programmes (VEP)".
Asia Pacific Journal of Education and Society 2025 13 no. 2 (2025): 1.
https://doi.org/10.20897/apjes/17299
Harvard
In-text citation: (Omoniyi, 2025)
Reference: Omoniyi, T. O. (2025). Redefining Electoral Literacy: An Appraisal of Content Adequacy, Audience Alignment, and Reform Prospects in INEC’s Voter Education Programmes (VEP).
Asia Pacific Journal of Education and Society, 13(2), 1.
https://doi.org/10.20897/apjes/17299
MLA
In-text citation: (Omoniyi, 2025)
Reference: Omoniyi, Timilehin Olayinka "Redefining Electoral Literacy: An Appraisal of Content Adequacy, Audience Alignment, and Reform Prospects in INEC’s Voter Education Programmes (VEP)".
Asia Pacific Journal of Education and Society, vol. 13, no. 2, 2025, 1.
https://doi.org/10.20897/apjes/17299
Vancouver
In-text citation: (1), (2), (3), etc.
Reference: Omoniyi TO. Redefining Electoral Literacy: An Appraisal of Content Adequacy, Audience Alignment, and Reform Prospects in INEC’s Voter Education Programmes (VEP). Asia Pacific Journal of Education and Society. 2025;13(2):1.
https://doi.org/10.20897/apjes/17299