Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential hopeful, Peter Obi, has requested that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) prolong the current Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) process. This move aims to ensure that eligible citizens, especially the youth, can sign up for the upcoming 2027 general elections.
Sharing his views on X this past Wednesday, Obi noted that thousands of individuals turn 18 daily, meeting the legal voting age. He argued that closing registration too early would unfairly restrict these citizens from exercising their democratic rights. He stated that the commission should aim for the latest possible date to accommodate more voters while still allowing enough time to prepare an accurate registry.
To support his argument, Obi referenced a November 2022 Federal High Court ruling in the matter of Anaja Salmat & 3 Others v. INEC. The court previously determined that registration should remain open until 90 days before an election to safeguard the voting rights of the public. While acknowledging that INEC needs time to manage logistics and finalize records, Obi emphasized that the primary goal should be to encourage broader democratic participation rather than placing obstacles in the way of potential voters.
