*Cites Unprecedented CVR Participation as Proof of Public Trust
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected recent claims suggesting that Nigerians have lost confidence in the country’s electoral system, describing such assertions as unsubstantiated.
Responding to criticisms from civil society and religious organisations over perceived public disillusionment with elections, INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, emphasized that ongoing voter engagement tells a different story.
“The notion that Nigerians have lost confidence in the electoral process is more myth than reality. Those claiming otherwise lack convincing evidence,” Oyekanmi said on Sunday.
He highlighted the strong participation in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which began on August 18, 2025, with an online pre-registration phase. Within the first seven hours of the portal going live, 69,376 Nigerians had pre-registered, a figure that grew to 5,385,060 by September 21.
The in-person registration phase began on August 25, and within the first month, 764,695 individuals had completed the process either online or physically. Oyekanmi pointed out that such figures are unprecedented in Africa.
“All pre-registrants must complete registration at designated centres to capture biometrics and other details in compliance with the Electoral Act 2022,” he stressed.
Reflecting on the 2023 general elections, Oyekanmi noted improvements in diversity and representation across all levels of government. In the National Assembly, seven political parties won Senate seats, while eight parties secured positions in the House of Representatives. At the state level, nine parties gained representation in State Assemblies, and gubernatorial elections saw APC winning 16 states, PDP ten, LP one, and NNPP one.
He also cited recent bye-elections as evidence that Nigerians continue to trust the electoral process.
Oyekanmi criticized some INEC detractors for what he described as contradictory demands, noting that many critics who call for reform are also advocating for INEC to oversee local government elections.
“Such inconsistencies raise questions about the basis of their criticism,” he said, reiterating that public engagement in voter registration reflects continued confidence in Nigeria’s electoral institutions.
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