The Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise until at least 90 days before the 2027 General Elections, arguing that an early closure could disenfranchise millions of eligible Nigerians.
In a letter submitted to the INEC Chairman at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, the coalition urged the electoral body to comply with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 and a subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court, which it said supports keeping voter registration open until 90 days before a general election.
COPDEM cited the judgment delivered on November 22, 2022, in the case of Anaja Salmat & 3 Others v. INEC (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1342/2022), noting that the court held that voter registration should continue until 90 days before a general election to protect the constitutional rights of eligible Nigerians.
According to the coalition, closing the registration exercise several months before the constitutional deadline would undermine the credibility, inclusiveness and legitimacy of the 2027 polls by denying many citizens the opportunity to register.
The organisation identified insecurity, internal displacement, poverty, inadequate registration centres, poor internet connectivity, transportation challenges and limited voter education as factors preventing many eligible Nigerians from registering.
It also noted that many young Nigerians who will attain voting age before the elections, as well as citizens expected to return from abroad, should not be excluded from participating in the electoral process.
Among its demands, COPDEM urged INEC to maintain the Continuous Voter Registration exercise until about October 18, 2026, approximately 90 days before the scheduled January 16, 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections.
The coalition also called on the electoral commission to publish a comprehensive voter registration timetable, establish more fixed and mobile registration centres, particularly in rural communities and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, intensify nationwide voter education campaigns and adopt measures that would prevent the disenfranchisement of first-time voters.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, National Chairman of COPDEM, Rwang Pam Jr., said, “Democracy is strengthened when every eligible citizen has an equal opportunity to vote.
The right to vote begins with the right to register. INEC must comply with both the Constitution and the judgment of the Federal High Court by ensuring that no Nigerian is denied that fundamental democratic right through the premature closure of voter registration.”
In a related appeal, the coalition also asked INEC to remove the mandatory requirement for applicants to provide an email address during voter registration.
COPDEM argued that making an email address compulsory could exclude millions of Nigerians, especially those living in rural communities, low-income households and elderly citizens who either do not own smartphones or have limited access to internet services.
According to the coalition, “Electoral inclusion must not be sacrificed on the altar of digital exclusion. Every eligible Nigerian should have an equal opportunity to register and vote, whether or not they own a smartphone or maintain an email account.”
The group maintained that the constitutional right to vote should not depend on access to digital technology and urged INEC to make the email field optional rather than compulsory.
COPDEM said its intervention was aimed at promoting free, fair, credible and inclusive elections in 2027, expressing confidence that full compliance with the Federal High Court judgment would strengthen public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.
INEC had not responded to the coalition’s demands as of the time the statement was issued.
