The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restated that only Nigerians who are 18 years and above are eligible to register to vote, in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The clarification was made on Thursday by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Yobe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Bade, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Abubakar Umar-Suleiman, at his palace in Gashua.
The REC was responding to a question from the Emir on whether a person who is currently 16 or 17 years old can be allowed to register now, with the intention to vote when they turn 18 in the 2027 general elections. In his reply, Abdullahi said emphatically that the law only permits Nigerians who are already 18 at the time of registration to participate in the voter registration exercise.
“Only eligible citizens of 18 years and above are allowed to register and vote under the Electoral Act,” he said.
Alhaji Abdullahi also emphasized the importance of voter registration, describing it as a key component of any democratic election. According to him, the quality and integrity of elections depend significantly on how well the voter register is maintained and updated.
He added that INEC is fully committed to ensuring a credible process and has begun the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in line with its mandate. He explained that the exercise has two components: online registration, which started on August 18, and physical registration, which will begin on August 25 and last for a full year.
The physical registration will take place at INEC’s state headquarters in Damaturu and across the 17 local government areas of the state. These centres will be open to eligible Nigerians who meet the requirements.
Abdullahi listed those eligible to participate in the CVR exercise as:
-Citizens who have never registered before,
– Those who have turned 18 years old,
– Persons who have issues with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs),
– And voters who wish to transfer their polling units.
The REC appealed to the Emir of Bade to help raise awareness among his people and encourage them to participate in the voter registration process. He noted that traditional institutions remain important stakeholders in Nigeria’s democratic process, particularly in rural areas where community leaders are highly respected.
“We are here to seek your support and partnership in mobilizing your people. The success of the CVR depends largely on how well the citizens are informed and encouraged to register,” Abdullahi said.
In his response, the Emir of Bade welcomed the REC and commended INEC for its efforts to improve the electoral process in the country. He promised to support the commission’s awareness campaign in his emirate.
“We will support INEC in any way we can. We will continue to preach peace, unity, and encourage our people to register and exercise their civic duties responsibly,” the Emir said.
The Emir also raised concerns about possible difficulties that people in rural areas might face in accessing the registration centres, especially due to poor road infrastructure and transportation challenges. He urged INEC to consider deploying mobile registration teams to hard-to-reach areas to ensure no eligible citizen is left out.
The CVR is part of INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections. According to the Electoral Act, the voter register must be updated ahead of every election cycle to include newly eligible voters and reflect changes in voter information.
Nigeria’s voting age remains 18, as provided under Section 77(2) of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act. Any attempt to register before attaining that age is considered illegal and such registrations will be invalidated.
INEC has consistently warned against multiple registrations, underage registration, and other electoral offenses, stressing that violators will face the full weight of the law.
In previous election cycles, underage voting has been a controversial issue in some parts of the country. INEC has been under pressure from civil society groups and international observers to clean up the voter register and prevent fraud. With the new CVR exercise, the commission says it is determined to uphold the integrity of the process.
Yobe State, located in Nigeria’s North-East, has faced challenges in past elections due to insecurity and low voter turnout. INEC is hoping that improved voter education, digital tools, and community engagement will boost participation in the 2027 polls.
