By Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have strengthened their collaboration to improve voter registration, enhance identity verification, and ensure a more credible electoral process ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, said the newly enacted National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026 provides the foundation for a new electoral system driven by verified identities, reduced duplication, and improved data integrity.
Prof. Amupitan stated this on Wednesday when he received the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, and her management team during a courtesy visit to the INEC Headquarters in Abuja.
Describing the development as historic, the INEC Chairman compared the passage of the Act, which had been under consideration for nearly two decades, to the birth of a child, saying the occasion marked the transformation of NIMC from a registration agency into a major digital authority with wider responsibilities across Nigeria’s economy, commerce, land administration, and electoral system.
He noted that identity-related challenges had remained a major concern for INEC, stressing that voter identity could easily be stolen, impersonated, or duplicated without a strong verification framework.
According to him, the new legal framework and technology supporting it would make such electoral irregularities easier to detect and prevent.
Prof. Amupitan recalled that he had previously advocated for stronger identity safeguards during his appearance before the National Assembly, commending lawmakers for providing the necessary legal backing to improve Nigeria’s electoral system.
He disclosed that with NIMC’s database now covering more than 136 million enrolled Nigerians, closer integration between both agencies would support continuous auditing, verification, and removal of duplicate or underage records from the voter register.
The INEC Chairman said the Commission’s newly introduced online voter registration platform is anchored on the National Identification Number (NIN) as a verification mechanism, describing it as an important step towards a more efficient Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) process.
He added that, in line with Section 18 of the Electoral Act, INEC has made provisions for eligible voters whose Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been damaged, destroyed, or become illegible to obtain replacements, including printable PVCs for requests made at least 90 days before an election.
On the voter register, Prof. Amupitan revealed that the Commission still has records of deceased persons, including some who died as far back as 2011, alongside cases of duplication.
He expressed optimism that collaboration with NIMC would help clean up the register and create a more accurate database of eligible voters.
According to him, a properly quantified and credible voter register would reduce the cost of elections, as INEC currently produces electoral materials beyond the actual number of eligible voters due to discrepancies in existing records.
He also highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in electoral processes, describing it as a powerful tool that requires proper regulation and security measures to protect data integrity.
Prof. Amupitan said technical teams from both organisations had already commenced discussions on areas of collaboration, adding that INEC was ready to work closely with NIMC to maximise the benefits of the partnership before the 2027 elections.
He described the collaboration as a “digital trust network” capable of strengthening confidence in Nigeria’s identity management system and electoral process.
Earlier, the NIMC Director-General, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said the NIMC Act 2026 was signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on June 26, 2026, after nearly two decades of legislative reforms.
She explained that the new law repositions NIMC as the authority responsible for Nigeria’s Public Key Infrastructure and the foundation of the country’s digital public infrastructure.
Coker-Odusote assured INEC of NIMC’s commitment to supporting a credible, transparent, and inclusive 2027 General Election, noting that effective identity management remains central to good governance and electoral planning.
A member of the NIMC delegation, the Director of Strategic Programme Office, Dr. Alvan Ikoku, also presented an overview of the expanded responsibilities and powers granted to NIMC under the new Act.
The meeting was attended by INEC National Commissioners, the Secretary to the Commission, Directors, technical aides to the INEC Chairman, and senior officials from both organisations.