By Daily Review Online
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the newly signed National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 will pave the way for a more credible and fraud-resistant voter register ahead of the 2027 general elections through stronger identity verification and closer collaboration between the two agencies.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), made the declaration on Wednesday while receiving the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, and her management team during a courtesy visit to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Amupitan described the enactment of the NIMC Act as a landmark achievement, saying it marks NIMC’s transformation into Nigeria’s sovereign digital identity authority with a critical role in governance, commerce, land administration and electoral management.
He said the commission has long battled identity-related challenges, including voter impersonation and duplication, but expressed confidence that the new legal framework and digital infrastructure would significantly improve the integrity of the voter register.
According to him, NIMC’s database, which now contains over 136 million enrolled Nigerians, will enable continuous verification and auditing of voter records, helping to eliminate duplicate registrations, underage voters and other irregularities.
The INEC chairman disclosed that the commission’s newly introduced online voter registration platform is anchored on the National Identification Number (NIN), describing it as a key step towards a seamless Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) process.
He also revealed that under Section 18 of the Electoral Act, eligible voters whose Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been lost, damaged or become illegible can obtain replacements, including printable PVCs, provided such requests are made at least 90 days before an election.
Amupitan noted that INEC’s voter register still contains records of Nigerians who died as far back as 2011, alongside duplicate entries, stressing that integration with NIMC’s identity database would help clean up the register and reduce the cost of conducting elections.
He added that the commission currently prints election materials in excess of the more than 100 million names on the register to account for discrepancies but hopes a comprehensive audit after the next general election will improve efficiency.
The INEC chairman also highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in election management, saying the technology must be deployed with appropriate safeguards to protect the credibility of electoral data.
He disclosed that technical teams from both commissions have already begun working together to maximise the benefits of the partnership before the 2027 general elections.
Earlier, NIMC Director-General Engr. Coker-Odusote said President Bola Tinubu signed the NIMC Act 2026 into law on June 26 after nearly two decades of legislative reforms.
She said the law positions NIMC as the root authority for Nigeria’s Public Key Infrastructure and the foundation of the country’s digital public infrastructure, adding that the commission remains committed to supporting INEC in delivering free, fair and transparent elections in 2027.
Meanwhile, Amupitan also reaffirmed that INEC remains focused on preparations for the 2027 general elections while concluding arrangements for the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.
He made the assurance while receiving a delegation of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) from Plateau State, led by Pius Akubo (SAN), who paid him a congratulatory visit at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The INEC chairman appealed to Nigerians, particularly members of the legal profession, to continue supporting and praying for the commission as it carries out its constitutional responsibilities.
He also commended the commission’s national commissioners, secretary, directors and technical aides for their contributions to the success of recent elections.
Akubo described Amupitan’s appointment as a milestone for the North-Central region and Nigeria’s democracy, expressing confidence in his leadership of the electoral body.