By Jane Salihu
The Independent National Electoral Commission is partnering with the National Identity Management Commission to eliminate duplicate, underage and ineligible entries from the national voter register ahead of the 2027 elections.
INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan said the newly enacted NIMC Act 2026 creates a legal framework for deeper collaboration between both institutions, enabling seamless identity verification and strengthening the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral database.
He said the Commission’s online Continuous Voter Registration platform has already been integrated with the National Identification Number, making identity verification mandatory in voter registration.
The INEC noted that the integration will allow INEC to conduct continuous audits using NIMC’s database of over 136 million Nigerians, detecting duplicates and irregular entries more effectively.
“Maintaining a more accurate voter register will enhance public confidence in elections and reduce the cost of conducting polls,” Amupitan said, noting that INEC still retains records of deceased voters dating back to 2011.
The INEC Chairman also announced new provisions allowing eligible voters with damaged, defaced or lost Permanent Voter Cards to obtain replacements, including printable versions, if applications are made at least 90 days before an election.
Amupitan flagged the need for careful regulation of emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence in electoral administration, stressing that adequate safeguards must protect election data integrity.
NIMC Director-General Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the Act into law on June 26, following nearly two decades of legislative efforts. She described a trusted digital identity system as fundamental to transparent governance and credible elections.
Technical teams from both organisations have already begun working on collaboration areas ahead of 2027.
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