Voter Education

This study critically examines the implications of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) role onelectoral integrityin Nigeria,usingOvia North-EastLocal Government Area of Edo State as a case study. The research investigates how key INEC functions, logistics and operations, result collation and transmission, institutional independence, voter education, and enforcement of electoral laws; affect the credibility and fairness of elections. A descriptive survey design was adopted, with data gathered from 280 respondents drawn from the 2023 INEC voters' register using multi-stage samplingtechniques. Data were analyzed using frequency distributionsand mean scores. The findings reveal significant public dissatisfaction with INEC's operational efficiency, transparencyinresulttransmission,enforcementofelectorallaws,andvoterengagement. These challenges were found to have negatively impacted electoral integrity, fostering public mistrust in election outcomes. The study recommends urgent and comprehensive electoral reforms that address INEC’s independence, logistics, legal enforcement, and voter education. It further calls for institutional restructuring and the creation of a framework that ensures accountability, technological transparency, and stakeholder inclusiveness.Theresearch contributestothegrowingdiscourseonelectoralgovernance anddemocracy inNigeriaandunderscorestheneed tostrengthendemocraticinstitutions throughgenuinereformefforts.