By Usman Oladimeji
Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to extend the ongoing voter registration exercise to allow more eligible Nigerians to participate in the 2027 general elections.
In a statement released on Thursday, Obi said he was making the appeal in the interest of deepening democratic participation in the country.
“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,” he said.
Obi noted that thousands of young Nigerians turn 18 every day and become constitutionally eligible to vote, adding that shutting the registration portal too early would disenfranchise many first-time voters.
“Every day, more young Nigerians attain the age of 18 and become constitutionally eligible to vote. They are not just our future; they are stakeholders in our present. 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,” he stated.
The former governor cited a 2022 Federal High Court judgment in _Anaja Salmat & 3 Others v. INEC_ (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1342/2022) delivered on 22 November 2022, which held that voter registration should continue until 90 days before a general election in order to protect the constitutional voting rights of eligible citizens.
“I appreciate the enormous responsibility placed on INEC to deliver free, fair, and credible elections. I also recognise 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,” Obi said.
He urged the electoral body to adopt a registration timeline that balances the integrity of the voters’ register with inclusiveness.
“A democracy is strengthened when every eligible citizen has the opportunity to be heard. I therefore urge INEC to adopt a registration timeline that protects the integrity of the process while ensuring that no eligible Nigerian, especially our young people, is unnecessarily disenfranchised,” he concluded.
