Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has responded to a political party’s claim that its latest online voter registration data defies “historical patterns and demographic realities.” The commission, in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the claim was baseless and that the data was consistent with previous registration exercises.
INEC had recently released data showing that Osun State led the country in online pre-registrations, a trend a political party suggested was unusual. However, the electoral body pointed to data from a similar exercise in 2021, when Osun State also led the country in online pre-registrations throughout the process.
The commission emphasized its rigorous process for ensuring the integrity of the voter register. It noted that all online pre-registrants are required to complete their registration in person, where their biometrics are captured. Furthermore, the commission said it uses its Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) to detect and remove double registrations, with the preliminary voter register also open for public scrutiny.
INEC stated that its duty is to ensure that only eligible and real persons are registered to vote. The commission appealed to citizens to rely on official and verifiable data from its repositories rather than resorting to conjecture.
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