Nigeria’s Voter Registration: A Call for Vigilance, But Will It Be Enough?

INEC, Nigeria’s electoral body, is again asking citizens to play a crucial role in cleaning up the voter register. Starting December 15, 2025, they’re launching a public display period, urging Nigerians to identify and report deceased or otherwise ineligible individuals. This isn’t new; they’ve done it before. But this time, perhaps there is a more pressing urgency to ensure voter list integrity before the next elections.

The backdrop to this call? The ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), slated to wrap up its initial phase soon. According to INEC’s figures, nearly 10 million pre-registrations have been logged, with over 2.5 million registrations fully completed through both online and in-person methods. That’s a sizable number, signaling a potential upswing in voter engagement. Still, the crucial question remains: how many of those registrations are legitimate, and how many are duplicates or worse?

INEC emphasizes that this public display – mandated by Section 19 of the Electoral Act 2022 – is vital. Essentially, they’re relying on the public to police the voter roll, flagging errors, inaccuracies, and, most importantly, names of the deceased. It’s a good idea in principle, leaning on community knowledge to enhance the register’s accuracy.

Yet, this approach presents its own set of challenges. The time frame, a mere week, seems awfully short for such a monumental task. How many Nigerians will genuinely have the time, resources, and even the inclination to scrutinize voter lists displayed at INEC local government offices? Bear in mind, these are the same offices that many citizens distrust.

There’s also the question of accessibility. How accessible are these displays to rural communities, those with limited internet access, or even those who may be less literate? Will the displays be available in multiple languages? These are critical details often overlooked, and can undermine even the best intentions.

It’s worth considering the human element. Reporting a deceased relative can be emotionally taxing. Are there adequate support systems in place to handle the sensitivities surrounding this process? Also, the possibility of malicious actors using this opportunity to settle scores or make false accusations cannot be ignored. Safeguards are needed to prevent this public scrutiny exercise from becoming a tool for manipulation.

Meanwhile, voter registration activities are currently on hold in Anambra State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) due to ongoing elections. While INEC has promised new resumption dates, these disruptions create further complexities. Maintaining momentum and ensuring consistent access to registration across the country is a challenge they must address.

Looking ahead, the second phase of the CVR is slated to begin in early January 2026. INEC reaffirms its commitment to a transparent electoral process, and insists that public cooperation is crucial. Without the public, it can not have an accurate voter register.

Given these facts, a little skepticism is warranted. While INEC’s call for public vigilance is laudable, relying solely on this approach feels somewhat inadequate. It places a significant burden on citizens while potentially masking deeper systemic issues within the registration process itself.

I’ve seen this pattern before, where institutions attempt to offload responsibility onto the public, often without providing adequate tools or resources. Realistically, a more comprehensive approach is needed, one that combines public participation with robust internal verification mechanisms, data analytics, and potentially even biometric authentication.

For example, cross-referencing voter data with national identity databases and death registries could significantly reduce the number of ineligible voters on the rolls. Furthermore, investing in technology to detect duplicate registrations would be a worthwhile step.

This challenge goes beyond simply removing names from a list. It’s about building trust in the electoral process. A credible voter register is foundational to free and fair elections, and free and fair elections are critical for stability. INEC’s current approach, while well-intentioned, might just be a band-aid on a wound that requires more intensive care. Only time will tell if the public will be able to rise to the occasion, and if INEC’s efforts will ultimately translate into a truly cleaner, more reliable voter register.

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Keywords: Nigeria voter registration, INEC voter register, voter list integrity, continuous voter registration, public display voter list, electoral process Nigeria, voter verification, election accuracy Nigeria