…says collaboration will curb multiple registrations
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process through deeper collaboration on digital identity verification, voter registration and data integrity.
The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, to the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking during the meeting, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, described the engagement as a strategic step towards improving the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system through technology and secure identity management.
He said identity remains one of the biggest challenges in election management, noting that impersonation, duplication and identity fraud have continued to undermine electoral integrity.
“When you talk about the identity of a person, identity can easily be distorted, impersonated or duplicated. That is why this collaboration is strategic. It will help us address many of the challenges associated with voter registration and identity verification,” Amupitan said.
The INEC chairman commended NIMC for accelerating national identity enrolment and strengthening Nigeria’s digital infrastructure following the enactment of the National Identity Management Commission Act, 2026.
He noted that technical teams from both agencies had already begun working together to address issues relating to voter registration and identity verification.
According to him, integration with NIMC’s biometric database will enable INEC to continuously audit the national voter register, detect duplicate registrations and improve the credibility of elections.
Amupitan also disclosed that the Commission’s newly introduced online voter registration platform would leverage digital identity verification to simplify the registration process for eligible voters.
He added that the Commission was introducing measures to ensure that eligible voters whose Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are unavailable before elections would not be disenfranchised.
“Where cases are reported at least 90 days before an election, eligible voters will be able to obtain a printable voter document that can be used for accreditation and voting,” he said.
Earlier, NIMC Director-General Abisoye Coker-Odusote briefed INEC officials on the provisions of the newly signed National Identity Management Commission Act, 2026, which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assented to on June 26, 2026.
She described the legislation as a landmark reform that strengthens NIMC’s role as the foundation of Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem.
According to her, the new law empowers the Commission to serve as the country’s digital public infrastructure authority and custodian of Nigeria’s Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), which provides the legal framework for secure digital transactions.
“The new Act cements NIMC as the foundation of identity in Nigeria and positions the Commission as the home of the nation’s Digital Public Infrastructure and Public Key Infrastructure, which are critical to secure digital governance,” she said.
Coker-Odusote explained that the reforms reinforce the principle of “One Person, One Identity, One Number,” aimed at reducing fraud, eliminating duplication and improving access to both public and private sector services.
She added that the new legal framework would support secure digital signatures, trusted electronic credentials, encrypted digital transactions and stronger cybersecurity across government institutions.
The NIMC boss assured INEC of the Commission’s continued support in deploying digital identity solutions to enhance election planning, voter verification and the overall credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.
Officials of both agencies said the collaboration is expected to improve data sharing, strengthen voter authentication and advance Nigeria’s transition to a more secure and technology-driven electoral system.