The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed the removal of 7,746 deceased voters from Nigeria’s national voter register as of December 2022.
This adjustment spans across the country’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), showcasing INEC’s ongoing efforts to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the voter list.
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Victoria Etta-Messi, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, shared this update on Thursday, emphasizing the commission’s commitment to maintaining a credible voter register. She explained that the process had been challenging but necessary for ensuring that only eligible voters remain on the list.
“Seven thousand, seven hundred and forty-six deceased persons across the 36 states and the FCT were removed from the National Register of Voters as of December 2022,” Etta-Messi stated.
However, INEC’s efforts to clean the voter register are not without obstacles. During its 2023 post-general election review held in December 2024, the commission highlighted significant challenges, particularly the inadequate availability of official death records, which has made it difficult to remove deceased registrants promptly.
“Problems with official death records continue to make it very difficult for INEC to remove deceased registrants,” the commission noted. To tackle this issue, INEC stressed the importance of greater collaboration with agencies such as the National Population Commission (NPC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
Another concern raised by INEC was the prevalence of double and multiple registrations. The commission used the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) to identify and remove 2,780,756 invalid registrations, accounting for 22.6% of new registrants.
Additionally, INEC addressed concerns over voter turnout. The 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections saw a turnout of just 27.5%, a significant drop from 35.6% in 2019. This decline was partly attributed to an inflated voter register, with suggestions that individuals who have not voted in the last three elections should be suspended and asked to revalidate their registration.
INEC has affirmed its ongoing commitment to improving the voter registration process, addressing challenges such as deceased voter removal and inflated lists, with the goal of enhancing the integrity of future elections. As the commission continues its efforts, stakeholders are hopeful that these measures will foster greater transparency and trust in the electoral process.
