DESCRIPTION

On March 4, 2026, the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) hosted the Election Integrity Summit at the Abuja Continental Hotel. With the theme "The Triad of Trust: Strengthening the Pillars of Election Security, Financial Accountability, and Result Integrity," the event brought together over 136 stakeholders, including representatives from INEC, the National Orientation Agency, security agencies, civil society, and the media. The summit focused on validating KDI's electoral reports and addressing the systemic challenges that impact public trust in Nigeria's democratic process. During the event, KDI presented three key assessments: The Nigeria Election Violence Education & Resolution (NEVER) Report, The Campaign Finance Report, and The Ballot Integrity Report. These reports highlighted key improvements such as a 98% result upload rate to the IReV portal in recent cycles while exposing persistent challenges, including widespread vote-buying, election day spending, and the impact of security threats on voter turnout. The keynote address, delivered by Justice Boissie Henry Mbha, retired Judge of the South African Court of Appeal, further contextualized these challenges within the broader West African region. The summit concluded with actionable recommendations to guide reforms ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle. Stakeholders emphasized the need for technology-driven campaign finance monitoring, stronger security coordination to prevent political violence, and enhanced training and welfare for ad hoc election staff. By fostering this collaborative dialogue, KDI and its partners reinforced their commitment to rebuilding public confidence and securing the integrity of Nigeria's future elections.