Does Nigeria truly have over 103 million voters?, By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu
Ahead of Nigeria’s general elections in January and February 2027, Africa Confidential warns that “turnout in the elections is likely to be even lower than the average 26.7% four years ago. Nigerian voters are among the…
Nigeria's voter register, maintained by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has long been a subject of controversy, with critics pointing to issues such as duplicate entries, deceased persons remaining on the rolls, and discrepancies between registered figures and actual turnout. Voter apathy has also been a persistent concern, with turnout in recent general elections falling well below half of registered voters, raising questions about the credibility and accuracy of the figures INEC publishes ahead of each election cycle.
This opinion piece by legal scholar and rights advocate Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, published by Premium Times and ThisDay, interrogates the commonly cited figure of over 103 million registered voters as Nigeria heads toward its January–February 2027 general elections. Drawing on analysis from Africa Confidential projecting turnout could dip even lower than the 26.7% recorded in the last cycle, the piece questions whether the official voter roll accurately reflects the eligible electorate. Both outlets carry the same analysis in full, with ThisDay's headline framing it more directly as a challenge to INEC's register, while Premium Times leads with the Africa Confidential turnout projection; neither publication has yet detailed what specific reforms, if any, INEC plans in response to such criticisms.