Nigeria’s voter register now contains approximately 103 million registered voters, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission. But the size of the register is only one measure of electoral readiness. Accuracy, accessibility and timely voter-card distribution matter just as much.
In the Federal Capital Territory, the current display of the voter register at Registration Area Centres ends today, October 15. INEC has said the exercise will continue at the six area council offices from October 16.
The commission has urged registered voters to check their names, confirm their polling units and raise objections where necessary. Eligible voters who registered, transferred or updated their records before 2026 and have yet to collect their cards are also being encouraged to do so.
However, INEC has clarified that permanent voter cards for the 2026 Continuous Voter Registration exercise are not yet available for collection.
That distinction needs to be communicated clearly. Citizens should not confuse the collection of previously produced cards with the future distribution of cards for the latest registration exercise.
The FCT has approximately 1.77 million registered voters. Ensuring that their details are correct is important not only for individual voting rights but also for the credibility of the electoral process.
The larger challenge is public confidence in the register.
INEC should explain how voters can correct errors, how objections will be handled, what safeguards prevent duplicate or ineligible registrations, and when newly registered voters can expect their cards.
It should also publish clear timelines for the remaining administrative steps and make information accessible to people who cannot easily navigate online systems.
The commission has announced measures to strengthen electoral technology and prevent compromised voter cards from being misused. Those measures should be accompanied by transparent explanations of how the systems work and how complaints will be resolved.
An accurate register helps protect elections from disputes. But accuracy cannot be established by announcing a national total alone.
The practical test is whether eligible citizens can find their names, correct errors, identify the right polling unit and receive their voter cards in time.
For FCT voters, today is an opportunity to check the displayed register. For INEC, the responsibility continues beyond the display period: the commission must demonstrate that the register is accurate and that every eligible voter can exercise their rights.
By Viewers Corner News