The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have strengthened their partnership to improve the credibility of Nigeria’s voter register, with both agencies committing to verified identity systems, data integrity and the elimination of duplicate and underage registrations ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking on Wednesday while receiving the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, and her management team at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, said the newly signed NIMC Act 2026 provides the legal and technological foundation for a more transparent and fraud-resistant electoral system.
He described the legislation as a landmark achievement, saying it transforms NIMC from a registration agency into a sovereign digital authority capable of supporting governance, commerce, land administration and electoral processes through trusted digital identity.
Prof. Amupitan acknowledged that identity-related challenges, including voter impersonation, duplication and identity theft, have long affected Nigeria’s electoral process. He expressed confidence that the new legal framework and digital infrastructure would significantly strengthen voter verification and improve the integrity of the electoral register.
According to him, NIMC’s database, which now contains the records of more than 136 million enrolled Nigerians, will enable continuous verification, auditing and the removal of duplicate and underage entries from the voter register through closer integration between both agencies.
The INEC Chairman disclosed that the Commission’s newly introduced online voter registration platform is now anchored on the National Identification Number (NIN) as a key verification requirement, making the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) process more secure and efficient.
He also noted that, in line with Section 18 of the Electoral Act, eligible voters whose Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are damaged, defaced or lost can obtain replacements, including printable PVCs for cases reported at least 90 days before an election, to ensure that no qualified voter is disenfranchised.
Prof. Amupitan revealed that the current voter register still contains records of deceased Nigerians dating back to 2011, as well as duplicate entries, stressing that collaboration with NIMC would help clean up the database and produce a more accurate register.
He explained that a credible and properly verified voter register would also reduce the cost of conducting elections by limiting unnecessary printing of election materials.
The INEC Chairman further highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in election management, noting that while the technology offers significant opportunities, it must be guided by clear safeguards to protect the integrity of electoral data.
He commended the leadership of NIMC for driving the successful passage of the NIMC Act 2026 and disclosed that technical teams from both organisations have already begun working together to implement the areas of collaboration ahead of the 2027 elections.
Earlier, NIMC Director-General, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said the NIMC Act 2026, signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on June 26, 2026, marks a major milestone after nearly two decades of legislative reforms.
She explained that the new law establishes NIMC as Nigeria’s root authority for the country’s Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and positions it at the centre of Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure.
According to her, trusted digital identity remains fundamental to effective governance, national planning and credible elections, assuring INEC of the Commission’s full support in delivering a free, fair and transparent 2027 General Election.
During the visit, Director of the Strategic Programme Office at NIMC, Dr. Alvan Ikoku, also briefed INEC officials on the expanded responsibilities and powers granted to the Commission under the new Act.
The meeting was attended by National Commissioners, the Secretary to the Commission, directors, technical aides to the INEC Chairman, and senior management officials from both INEC and NIMC.
