Nigeria’s electoral commission plans to clean up its voter registry by linking it to the national identity database, aiming to remove millions of duplicate entries and deceased citizens ahead of the 2027 general election.
Professor Joash Amupitan SAN, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced the partnership on Wednesday during a meeting in Abuja with Abisoye Coker-Odusote, the head of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
The collaboration follows the signing of the new NIMC Act 2026 by President Bola Tinubu on June 26, which legally empowers the identity agency to act as the country’s primary digital public registry.
Prof. Amupitan revealed that INEC’s current database still contains entries for citizens who died as far back as 2011, alongside widespread cases of duplication and underage registration.
“Voter identity can easily be stolen, easily be impersonated, easily be duplicated,” the INEC chief said, adding that linking databases will establish a “digital trust network” to eliminate these vulnerabilities.
Key changes for voters and the budget
The integration of the two databases is expected to bring major changes to how elections are run in Africa’s most populous nation:
- NIN-verified registration: INEC’s online voter registration platform is now deliberately anchored on the National Identification Number (NIN) to verify a citizen’s identity instantly.
- Cleaning up the register: By auditing INEC’s list against NIMC’s database of over 136 million enrolled Nigerians, officials hope to significantly reduce the registry from its current inflated size of over 100 million entries.
- Slashing election costs: The current inflated database forces INEC to print excess ballot papers and materials to cover discrepancies. A cleaned, accurately quantified register is expected to significantly lower the overall cost of running elections.
- Easy card replacement: Under current guidelines, citizens with damaged or lost Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) can obtain replacements, including printable cards, provided they report the issue at least 90 days before an election.
Focus on technology and AI
As both agencies prepare for the 2027 polls, the INEC chairman also highlighted the emerging challenge of artificial intelligence in managing public data.
While calling AI a powerful tool for operations, Prof. Amupitan warned that it requires strict, deliberate controls and security protocols to safeguard the integrity of the country’s sensitive voter data.
Add Comment