Obi calls for longer voter registration period ahead of 2027 elections
The presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the ongoing voter registration exercise to ensure more eligible Nigerians can participate in the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Obi said the registration window should remain open until the latest practical date before the polls, noting that thousands of Nigerians attain voting age every day and should not be denied the opportunity to register.
He argued that extending the exercise would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy by allowing more citizens, particularly young people who turn 18 before the elections, to exercise their constitutional right to vote.
“As we continue to encourage Nigerians to participate actively in our democracy, I respectfully appeal to INEC to consider extending the voter registration window to the latest practical date that still allows adequate time for the preparation of a credible voters’ register before the 2027 general elections.
“Our electoral process should, as much as possible, maximise participation rather than limit it. A democracy is strengthened when every eligible citizen has the opportunity to be heard,” he said.
Obi cited a Federal High Court judgment delivered on November 22, 2022, in Anaja Salmat & 3 Others v. INEC (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1342/2022), which he said held that voter registration should continue until 90 days before a general election to protect the voting rights of eligible citizens.
While acknowledging the commission’s responsibility to compile a credible voters’ register and make adequate logistical preparations, he maintained that those considerations should not come at the expense of voter participation.
He urged INEC to adopt a registration timetable that preserves the integrity of the electoral process while ensuring that no eligible Nigerian is unnecessarily disenfranchised before the 2027 polls.
