The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled plans to deepen collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to strengthen Nigeria’s voter register ahead of the 2027 General Election, with a focus on eliminating duplication, curbing identity fraud and improving the integrity of the electoral process.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, and her management team to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Prof. Amupitan described the recently signed NIMC Act 2026 as a major milestone that would transform Nigeria’s identity management architecture and provide the legal and technological foundation for a more credible electoral system. He said the legislation effectively repositions NIMC from a registration agency to a sovereign digital identity authority capable of supporting governance, commerce, land administration and electoral management.
He noted that identity-related challenges, including impersonation, duplication and identity theft, have remained significant concerns for INEC, expressing confidence that the new legal framework and digital identity infrastructure would make such infractions easier to detect and prevent.
According to the INEC Chairman, NIMC’s database of over 136 million enrolled Nigerians presents an opportunity for seamless integration between both institutions, enabling continuous verification, auditing and removal of duplicate and underage entries from the national voter register.
He revealed that INEC’s newly introduced online voter registration platform is anchored on the National Identification Number (NIN), describing the initiative as a critical step toward improving the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) process.
Prof. Amupitan also disclosed that, in line with Section 18 of the Electoral Act, the Commission has made provisions for the replacement of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) that are damaged, defaced or illegible. He explained that eligible voters who report such cases at least 90 days before an election would be able to obtain replacement cards, including printable PVCs, to prevent disenfranchisement.
The INEC Chairman acknowledged that the Commission’s voter register still contains entries belonging to deceased persons dating back to 2011, as well as cases of duplication. He said collaboration with NIMC would support ongoing efforts to sanitise the register and establish a more accurate database of eligible voters.
He explained that a cleaner voter register would also reduce the cost of elections, noting that INEC currently prints electoral materials above the number of registered voters to account for existing discrepancies. He added that a comprehensive voter register quantification exercise would be undertaken after the 2027 General Election.
Prof. Amupitan further highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in election administration, stressing the need for appropriate safeguards and regulatory protocols to ensure that emerging technologies strengthen rather than undermine electoral credibility.
He disclosed that technical teams from both organisations have already commenced discussions on priority areas of collaboration, expressing optimism that the partnership would reinforce public confidence in Nigeria’s identity management and electoral systems.
Earlier, NIMC Director-General, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said the NIMC Act 2026, signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on June 26, 2026, followed nearly two decades of legislative reform.
She explained that the Act establishes NIMC as Nigeria’s root authority for Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), placing the Commission at the centre of the country’s digital public infrastructure and digital trust framework.
According to her, reliable identity management remains fundamental to effective governance and credible elections, assuring INEC of NIMC’s full support in preparations for the 2027 General Election.
Also during the visit, Director of the Strategic Programme Office at NIMC, Dr. Alvan Ikoku, presented the expanded powers and responsibilities conferred on the Commission under the new legislation.
Meanwhile, Prof. Amupitan has reaffirmed that INEC remains fully focused on preparations for the 2027 General Election while concluding arrangements for the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.
The INEC Chairman stated this while receiving a delegation of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) resident in Plateau State, led by Pius A. Akubo, SAN, who paid him a congratulatory visit at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja following his appointment.
He appealed to Nigerians, particularly members of the legal profession, to continue supporting and praying for the Commission as it carries out its constitutional responsibilities.
Prof. Amupitan also commended the National Commissioners, the Secretary to the Commission, directors and technical aides for their dedication, describing them as the driving force behind the success of recent elections.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Akubo described the appointment of Prof. Amupitan as INEC Chairman as a significant milestone for the North-Central region and Nigeria’s democracy, while offering prayers for wisdom and divine guidance in the discharge of his duties.
Responding, the INEC Chairman thanked the delegation for the visit, recalling his professional ties with the legal community in Plateau State and paying tribute to senior advocates from the state who have passed away, describing their loss as a profound one for the legal profession.
