The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria has strongly rejected assertions that Nigerians have lost faith in the country’s electoral system, describing such claims as unfounded and lacking evidence.

In recent weeks, the commission has come under criticism from Civil Society Organisations and religious groups, which argued that the Nigerian public is increasingly disillusioned with the electoral process.

Responding to these concerns, Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, said that the available data tells a different story. He pointed to ongoing participation in the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise as clear proof of public trust.

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“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.“On the contrary, the high level of participation by Nigerians, especially the youths, in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, which began on August 18 this year with online pre-registration, shows that citizens still have confidence in the process.”
Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman

INEC launched the latest phase of CVR on August 18, urging eligible voters to pre-register online before completing the process at designated centres nationwide. By September 21, only five weeks after the exercise began, INEC confirmed that 5,385,060 Nigerians had uploaded their details to the portal.

In-person registration began on August 25. Within the first week, 72,274 people had either finalized their online registration or registered completely in person. By week four of the physical registration, on September 19, INEC reported that 399,162 pre-registrants had completed the process and 365,533 others registered entirely through physical means. This brought the total number of completed registrations to 764,695 in one month.

Oyekanmi remarked on the scale of the numbers. “There is no African country with these types of voter registration figures within one month,” he said. He also stressed that completing registration in person remains mandatory under the Electoral Act 2022.

“All those who pre-registered online must complete their registration by physically appearing at their preferred designated centre to have their biometrics and other details captured, in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, specifically Sections 9(7) and 10(2).”
Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman

Electoral System Shows Diversity Gains

Reflecting on the 2023 general elections, Oyekanmi argued they demonstrated significant improvements in Nigeria’s democratic process. “The 2023 general election, more than any other election, demonstrates this fact. The election produced the most diverse National Assembly since the restoration of democracy in 1999,” he said.

In the Senate, seven political parties won seats: All Progressives Congress (59), Peoples Democratic Party (36), Labour Party (eight), New Nigeria People’s Party (two), Social Democratic Party (two), All Progressives Grand Alliance (one), and Young Progressives Party (one).

The diversity was also reflected in the House of Representatives, where eight parties secured seats: APC (177), PDP (117), LP (35), NNPP (19), APGA (five), African Democratic Congress (two), SDP (two), and YPP (two).

At the state level, nine parties won seats in State Assemblies, including APC (533), PDP (355), LP (38), NNPP (29), APGA (20), YPP (eight), SDP (seven), A (one), and ADC (one). In the gubernatorial contests, APC claimed 16 states, PDP won 10, LP secured one, and NNPP also one.

According to Oyekanmi, even the outcomes of bye-elections further reinforce the evidence that “Nigerians have kept faith with the electoral process.” He also criticised contradictions in the stance of INEC’s detractors.

“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.”
Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman

With registration numbers increasing and voter diversity expanding, INEC insists that confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system remains strong, despite persistent doubts voiced by some of its critics.