INEC Ends Voter Registration Amid Concerns Over Access and 2027 Election Credibility
INEC Ends Voter Registration Amid Concerns Over Access and 2027 Election Credibility
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has concluded the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise despite mounting concerns from political parties, civil society organisations and election observers over access challenges, technical glitches and their potential impact on the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
The electoral commission maintained that the registration exercise ended in line with the Electoral Act, stressing that the deadline would not be extended. According to INEC, closing the registration window is necessary to enable the commission to clean the voter database, conduct biometric verification, process claims and objections, produce Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and complete other statutory preparations ahead of the elections.
However, the closure has generated mixed reactions, with opposition political parties and several civil society groups expressing concern that many eligible Nigerians were unable to register due to online portal disruptions, long queues, logistical challenges and insecurity in some areas. They warned that excluding prospective voters could undermine public confidence in the electoral process and called for measures to ensure broader participation in future registration exercises.
INEC disclosed that nearly three million new voter registrations were recorded during the exercise, with young Nigerians accounting for the majority of new registrants. The commission explained that the preliminary figures remain subject to biometric verification and the removal of duplicate entries before the final voters’ register is published and distributed to political parties.
As preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum, stakeholders have urged INEC to strengthen its digital infrastructure, improve voter education, expand access to registration centres and enhance security around electoral activities. They also stressed that transparent management of the voters’ register will be critical to ensuring free, fair and credible elections across the country.
