Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says it is partnering with the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, to eliminate voter fraud and improve the credibility of the voter register ahead of the 2027 General Election.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this while receiving the Director-General of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, and her management team at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Professor Amupitan said the newly signed NIMC Act 2026 provides a stronger legal framework for identity verification, making it easier to detect voter impersonation, duplication and other forms of electoral fraud.
He revealed that INEC’s online Continuous Voter Registration platform is now linked to the National Identification Number, NIN, to strengthen the verification process.
The INEC Chairman also disclosed that the Commission will work with NIMC to identify and remove duplicate, underage and deceased persons from the voter register, noting that some records of Nigerians who died as far back as 2011 are still on the register.
According to him, a cleaner voter register will not only improve public confidence in elections but also reduce the cost of conducting polls by ensuring more accurate planning and deployment of election materials.
Professor Amupitan added that both agencies are already collaborating on the use of technology, including artificial intelligence, to safeguard the integrity of electoral data ahead of the 2027 elections.
Earlier, NIMC Director-General, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said the NIMC Act 2026 has transformed the Commission into Nigeria’s digital identity authority and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting INEC in delivering free, fair and credible elections.
She stressed that a credible identity system is essential for effective governance and transparent elections, pledging NIMC’s full support to INEC ahead of the 2027 General Election.