Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the ongoing voter registration exercise to ensure that more eligible Nigerians, particularly young people, are able to participate in the 2027 general elections.
Obi made the appeal in a statement shared on his official Facebook page on Thursday, urging the electoral body to keep the registration window open until the latest practical date that would still allow enough time to compile a credible voters’ register.
According to him, thousands of Nigerians attain the voting age of 18 every day and should not be denied the opportunity to register simply because the exercise ends long before the elections.
He stressed that young Nigerians are not only the future of the country but also active stakeholders whose participation is essential to strengthening democracy.
The former Anambra State governor argued that extending the registration period is consistent with a Federal High Court judgment delivered on November 22, 2022, in the case of Anaja Salmat & 3 Others v. INEC (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1342/2022).
Obi noted that the court ruled that voter registration should continue until 90 days before a general election in order to safeguard the constitutional rights of eligible Nigerians to vote.
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While acknowledging INEC’s responsibility to conduct free, fair and credible elections, he said the commission also requires adequate time to clean up the voters’ register and make necessary logistical preparations.
However, he maintained that the electoral process should prioritise expanding citizens’ participation rather than limiting it.
“A democracy is strengthened when every eligible citizen has the opportunity to be heard,” Obi stated, urging INEC to adopt a registration timetable that preserves the integrity of the electoral process while ensuring that no qualified Nigerian, especially first-time voters, is unnecessarily disenfranchised.
His appeal comes as preparations gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, with calls from various stakeholders for broader voter inclusion and increased youth participation in the country’s democratic process.