The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed recent assertions that Nigerians have lost faith in the country’s electoral system, describing such claims as unfounded and unsupported by credible evidence.
In the past few weeks, several civil society and religious organisations have voiced concerns over what they perceive as growing public apathy towards elections. However, in a statement on Sunday, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, told The PUNCH that available data paints a far different picture—highlighting significant public engagement in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
“The notion that Nigerians have lost confidence in the electoral process is more myth than reality. Those making these claims have failed to provide any substantive proof,” Oyekanmi said.
He pointed to the strong turnout—especially among young people—in the current voter registration drive as clear evidence of ongoing public trust in the system.
“The high level of participation by Nigerians, particularly the youth, in the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, which began on August 18, 2025, is a strong indicator that confidence in the electoral process remains intact,” he added.
Massive Turnout in Voter Registration
INEC launched the new phase of the CVR with an online pre-registration portal that went live at 8:30 a.m. on August 18. Within seven hours, the portal recorded 69,376 pre-registrations, comprising 33,803 males (48.7%) and 35,573 females (51.3%).
By August 24—just one week in—the total number of online pre-registrations had surged to 1,379,342. Two weeks later, on September 1, the figure climbed to 2,532,062. By September 21, five weeks into the exercise, 5,385,060 Nigerians had uploaded their information on the platform.
Physical (in-person) registration commenced on August 25. By the end of the first week, 72,274 individuals had completed the registration process, either online or in person. By September 19, 399,162 online registrants had finalized their registration at physical centers, while 365,533 completed the entire process in person—bringing the total to 764,695 in one month.
“There is no African country with these kinds of voter registration numbers in a single month,” Oyekanmi said.
He also emphasized that all pre-registered voters must complete their registration in person, in line with the Electoral Act 2022.
“Section 9(7) and Section 10(2) of the Electoral Act 2022 mandate that biometric and other data must be captured in person at designated registration centers,” he explained.
2023 Elections Marked a Turning Point
Reflecting on the 2023 general elections, Oyekanmi noted that the polls marked a milestone in Nigeria’s democratic evolution, producing the most diverse National Assembly since 1999.
In the Senate, seven political parties secured seats:
APC – 59
PDP – 36
Labour Party – 8
NNPP – 2
SDP – 2
APGA – 1
YPP – 1
In the House of Representatives, eight parties won seats:
APC – 177
PDP – 117
LP – 35
NNPP – 19
APGA – 5
ADC – 2
SDP – 2
YPP – 2
At the state level, nine political parties were represented in State Houses of Assembly:
APC – 533
PDP – 355
LP – 38
NNPP – 29
APGA – 20
YPP – 8
SDP – 7
A – 1
ADC – 1
In gubernatorial elections, APC secured 16 states, PDP won 10, LP took one, and NNPP also won one.
According to Oyekanmi, these outcomes, along with recent bye-elections, clearly show that Nigerians continue to engage with and believe in the electoral process.
INEC Calls Out Critics’ Double Standards
Oyekanmi also addressed what he described as the contradictory stance of some INEC critics.
“Ironically, many of those who harshly criticise INEC are the same individuals advocating for the Commission to take over the conduct of Local Government elections. You can’t walk on both sides of the road,” he said.
