The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, Mr Peter Obi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the deadline for voter registration to the latest practicable date that still allows adequate time for compiling a credible electoral roll.
In a statement posted on his X account on Thursday, Mr Obi argued that every day more young Nigerians turn 18 and become constitutionally eligible to vote. He warned that closing the registration process too far in advance of the election would disenfranchise thousands of citizens.
“They are not just our future; they are stakeholders in our present,” Mr Obi wrote. “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.”
The former governor also cited legal precedent, referencing a Federal High Court judgment delivered on 22 November 2022 in the case of Anaja Salmat & 3 Others v. INEC (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1342/2022). In that ruling, the court held that voter registration should continue until 90 days before a general election to protect the constitutional voting rights of eligible Nigerians.
While acknowledging the enormous responsibility placed on INEC to deliver free, fair and credible elections, Mr Obi stressed that the electoral process should maximise participation rather than restrict it.
“I appreciate the need for sufficient time to clean the register and make the necessary logistical preparations. However, our electoral process should, as much as possible, maximise participation rather than limit it,” he said.
He concluded by urging the commission to adopt a timeline that protects the integrity of the process while ensuring that no eligible Nigerian, particularly young people, is unnecessarily disenfranchised.
