Nigerian Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the ongoing voter registration exercise to ensure that more eligible Nigerians, particularly young people who recently turned 18, are not disenfranchised ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement, Obi appealed to the electoral commission to keep the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise open until the latest practical date that would still allow sufficient time for the preparation of a credible voters’ register before the elections.
According to him, thousands of Nigerians attain the age of 18 every day, making them constitutionally eligible to vote, and closing the registration process too early would deny many of them the opportunity to participate in the country’s democratic process.
“Every day, more young Nigerians attain the age of 18 and become constitutionally eligible to vote. They are not just our future; they are stakeholders in our present. It would be unfortunate if many of them were denied the opportunity to exercise their civic responsibility simply because the registration process closed long before the elections,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor also cited a Federal High Court judgment delivered on November 22, 2022, in the case of *Anaja Salmat & 3 Others v. INEC* (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1342/2022), which held that voter registration should continue until 90 days before a general election to safeguard the constitutional voting rights of eligible Nigerians.
Obi acknowledged the enormous responsibility placed on INEC to conduct free, fair and credible elections, noting that the commission requires adequate time to clean the voters’ register and complete the necessary logistical preparations.
However, he maintained that the electoral process should prioritise broad participation rather than create barriers for eligible voters.
“Our electoral process should, as much as possible, maximise participation rather than limit it,” he stated.
Obi stressed that democracy is strengthened when every eligible citizen is given the opportunity to participate in choosing leaders and urged INEC to adopt a voter registration timeline that balances electoral integrity with inclusiveness.
“I therefore urge INEC to adopt a registration timeline that protects the integrity of the process while ensuring that no eligible Nigerian, especially our young people, is unnecessarily disenfranchised,” he added.
