Human rights lawyer Ikechukwu Obasi has given Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission five days to restart its Continuous Voter Registration exercise nationwide, warning that the current indefinite suspension risks disenfranchising millions of eligible voters before the 2027 general elections.
In a letter dated 2 September 2026 addressed to the INEC chairman, Obasi argued that the early shutdown of registration and Permanent Voter Card replacement violates the Electoral Act 2026. He cited Sections 9(6), 10(1) and 18(1)–(3), which require voter registration and PVC replacement to continue until no later than 90 days before a general election.
INEC’s published timetable sets the start of the 2027 elections at 16 January 2027. Counting back 90 days places the legal cutoff at 18 October 2026. “It therefore follows that the law mandates INEC to keep the voters’ register open up until 18th October, 2026 and not a day earlier,” Obasi wrote.
The lawyer, acting on behalf of unregistered citizens and those whose PVCs have been lost, damaged or destroyed, said the commission has suspended the exercise indefinitely across the country. He contended that this step could leave large numbers of newly eligible 18-year-olds unable to vote and would breach Section 77(2) of the 1999 Constitution.
“To close CVR before the statutory 90-day deadline is a violation of the mandatory provision of the Electoral Act, 2026 and an abuse of administrative discretion,” the letter stated. Obasi demanded that the registration portal be reopened immediately and remain active until 18 October 2026 so that eligible Nigerians can register and collect their cards.
The demand arrives as preparations intensify for the 2027 elections. Voter registration, PVC collection and access to the electoral process have long been flashpoints in Nigerian politics, with civil-society groups frequently raising concerns about barriers facing first-time voters and those seeking to replace damaged cards.
Obasi gave INEC five days from receipt of the letter to comply. If the commission does not reopen the exercise, he said he would “seek appropriate legal remedy to compel compliance with your statutory duty and to protect the right of Nigerians to vote.”
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