INEC Dismisses Claims of Distrust, Highlights Voter Confidence in Nigeria

INEC’s online portal records over five million pre-registrations in five weeks.

 The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has pushed back strongly against suggestions that Nigerians have lost faith in the country’s electoral system. In recent weeks, several civil society organizations, religious leaders, and political commentators have raised concerns over what they describe as “growing public disillusionment” with elections in Africa’s largest democracy.
But according to INEC, these claims are exaggerated and not backed by hard evidence. Instead, the electoral body points to massive public participation in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise as proof that Nigerians are still actively engaged in shaping their political future.
In this in-depth report, we break down INEC’s position, provide context with verifiable data, revisit the 2023 elections, and assess what all of this means for Nigeria’s democratic journey.

Elections remain the cornerstone of democracy. When citizens trust the process, they are more likely to participate, accept results, and hold leaders accountable. But when doubts creep in, voter apathy, disinformation, and political instability can follow.
Nigeria, with a population of over 200 million and a history of controversial elections, is particularly sensitive to this issue. The 2023 general elections sparked heated debates, with some observers praising INEC’s innovations while others accused it of failing to deliver credible results.
This is why the recent wave of criticism matters. If Nigerians are indeed losing confidence, it could have long-term implications for governance and democracy. But INEC insists the opposite is true.

Speaking on Sunday, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, told PUNCH Online that the commission does not accept the narrative of widespread distrust.

“The notion that Nigerians have lost confidence in the electoral process is more of a myth than a reality, as those who proclaim it lack convincing evidence to support it,” he said.

Oyekanmi argued that the best indicator of trust in elections is citizen engagement. He pointed to the overwhelming enthusiasm of Nigerians, especially young people, in the ongoing voter registration as clear evidence that the public still values their right to vote.

INEC launched a new phase of Continuous Voter Registration on August 18, 2025, introducing an online pre-registration platform to complement physical registration centers across the country.
The figures, so far, have been staggering:

• August 18 (launch day): Within just seven hours, 69,376 Nigerians had pre-registered. Of this, 33,803 were males (48.7%) and 35,573 were females (51.3%).
• By August 24 (first week): Registrations hit 1,379,342.
• By September 1 (two weeks): The number climbed to 2,532,062.
• By September 21 (five weeks): Over 5,385,060 Nigerians had uploaded their details on the CVR portal. 

The in-person phase, which began on August 25, also saw impressive numbers:
Within the first week, 72,274 individuals had either completed their online registration or registered physically.
By September 19 (four weeks in), 399,162 online pre-registrants had completed their biometrics, while 365,533 citizens registered entirely in person. That brought the total completed registrations to 764,695 within just one month.
According to Oyekanmi, these numbers are “unmatched in Africa” within such a short timeframe.

INEC also reminded Nigerians that registration is not complete until physical verification and biometric capture take place at designated centers. This is mandated under Sections 9(7) and 10(2) of the Electoral Act 2022. This ensures that only genuine voters are added to the register, reducing the risk of fraud, duplication, or impersonation.
Critics of INEC often highlight challenges from the 2023 general elections, but the commission insists the polls marked progress in many ways.

Oyekanmi pointed out that the election produced the most diverse National Assembly since 1999, with multiple political parties securing representation:
Senate Results (2023):

• All Progressives Congress (APC) – 59 seats
• Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – 36 seats
• Labour Party (LP) – 8 seats
• New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) – 2 seats
• Social Democratic Party (SDP) – 2 seats
• All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) – 1 seat
• Young Progressives Party (YPP) – 1 seat 

House of Representatives Results (2023):

• APC – 177 seats
• PDP – 117 seats
• LP – 35 seats
• NNPP – 19 seats
• APGA – 5 seats 

African Democratic Congress (ADC)—2 seats
SDP – 2 seats
YPP – 2 seats

State Assemblies:
Nine political parties won seats across different states.

• APC – 533
• PDP – 355
• LP – 38
• NNPP – 29
• APGA – 20
• YPP – 8
• SDP – 7
• A – 1
• ADC – 1 

In gubernatorial elections, APC won 16 states, PDP 10, Labour Party 1, and NNPP 1.

“These outcomes clearly demonstrate that Nigerians continue to engage with the process and that democracy is broadening,” Oyekanmi said.

Oyekanmi also questioned the stance of some civil society groups that harshly criticize INEC while simultaneously demanding that local government elections be transferred from state commissions to INEC.

“Ironically, some of the most ardent critics of INEC are also in the forefront of calling for electoral reform to transfer local government elections to the same commission. Surely, they cannot continue to walk on both sides of the road,” he remarked.

While INEC’s numbers are compelling, public perception is more nuanced. Many Nigerians, especially youths, are enthusiastic about registering to vote. Social media campaigns urging registration have gone viral, with hashtags like #GetYourPVC and #YouthVote2027 trending frequently.
However, concerns remain about issues such as:

• Logistics: Delays in opening polling stations.
• Technology: Problems with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in some areas.
• Transparency: Disputes over result collation and transmission.

Civil society organizations argue that high registration does not automatically translate into trust. Some Nigerians register out of civic duty or peer pressure but may still doubt that their votes will count.
Nigeria’s next general elections are scheduled for 2027, and INEC has already begun preparations. The high turnout in CVR suggests that young Nigerians, who make up over 70% of the population, could play a decisive role.
If INEC can deliver more transparent and efficient elections, the 2027 polls could mark a turning point in restoring faith in democratic institutions.
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The debate over public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process is unlikely to end soon. Critics argue that INEC still has much to prove in terms of credibility, logistics, and transparency. But the commission counters with overwhelming evidence of citizen engagement and a more diverse political representation than ever before.
The truth may lie somewhere in between. Nigerians are clearly willing to participate, but they also demand reforms and accountability. If INEC can build on the momentum of high voter registration and address the concerns from past elections, confidence in the process may not only survive but also deepen ahead of 2027.


By PrimeLineInfo