The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why voter registration turnout has remained low in many parts of Nigeria, saying distance and access challenges are discouraging many eligible citizens from registering.
INEC said many Nigerians find it difficult to travel long distances from their communities to local government headquarters where voter registration centres are currently located. As a result, many people who are willing to register are unable to do so.
The explanation was given by the Director of Voter Education and Publicity at INEC, Mrs Victoria Etta-Messi, during an interview on Arise Television. She said the commission is aware of the problem and has begun plans to address it.
According to her, one of the biggest challenges identified so far is the long distance between many communities and INEC local government offices. In rural areas especially, people may need to travel several kilometres to reach registration centres, often without good roads or affordable transport.
“So, one major challenge that has been noticed and noted is the distance of local governments from the communities,” Etta-Messi said. “That has been discouraging for the citizens to come to their local government capitals to get registered.”
She explained that because of this challenge, INEC has decided to introduce a new policy known as the “rotation policy” during the second phase of the ongoing voter registration exercise.
Under this policy, INEC will move voter registration machines and staff from one ward to another instead of asking citizens to come to local government offices. This means that registration will be brought closer to the people at the ward level.
Etta-Messi said the policy is aimed at increasing participation and making voter registration easier, especially for people living in remote or hard-to-reach areas.
“And so because of that, the Commission is aware of that challenge,” she said. “And so during the second phase, they are going to introduce the policy of rotation.”
She also explained the timeline of the ongoing registration exercise. According to her, the current phase of voter registration began on January 5 and will run until April 17. This gives a total of about 75 days for the exercise.
INEC is currently conducting registration only on weekdays, as the exercise does not hold on weekends. This has also affected turnout, especially for people who work during the week and find it difficult to take time off.
Etta-Messi said the commission plans to begin the rotation policy about 50 days into the exercise, which will be closer to the end of the registration period.
“So as we start today, because we’re not going to have the exercise on weekends, it’s about 75 days from today, January 5 to April 17. That will cover for the second phase,” she said.
“So the Commission is looking into having started 50 days towards the end of the exercise, would initiate the rotation policy where the machines and the registration teams would be taken from ward to ward.”
She added that INEC will prepare a detailed schedule showing when and where registration teams will visit each ward. This schedule will be made public so that residents will know the exact dates and locations for registration in their areas.
“And so we will draw out a schedule, where we would now be moving from one ward to another and the devices will be taken closer to the people at the ward level,” she said.
However, Etta-Messi noted that for now, voter registration is still taking place at INEC local government and state offices across the country.
“But for now, we’re still holding on to the local government and the state offices,” she added.
Voter registration is a key part of Nigeria’s democratic process, as only registered voters with valid Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are allowed to vote during elections. INEC regularly conducts registration exercises to allow new voters to sign up, as well as enable people who have changed location or lost their PVCs to update their records.
In recent years, however, turnout during voter registration exercises has often been lower than expected, especially outside major cities. Observers have blamed this on factors such as lack of awareness, poor access to registration centres, insecurity, and public distrust in the political system.
Nigeria has over 176,000 polling units spread across urban and rural areas, but voter registration centres are usually fewer and more centralised. This means that many people, especially in villages and remote communities, face challenges reaching registration points.
Civil society groups have long called on INEC to decentralise voter registration and take the process closer to the people. The planned ward-level rotation policy appears to be a response to these calls.
Security concerns have also played a role in low turnout in some areas. In parts of the country affected by banditry, kidnapping, or communal violence, residents may be afraid to travel long distances or gather at public places.
INEC has said it is working with security agencies to ensure the safety of its staff and voters during registration exercises. However, the commission has admitted that insecurity remains a challenge in some locations.
Public trust is another issue affecting voter participation. Many Nigerians, especially young people, feel discouraged by past election experiences and believe their votes do not count. This has reduced interest in both voter registration and election day participation.
INEC officials have repeatedly urged citizens not to lose faith in the electoral process, stressing that registering to vote is a civic duty and an important way for citizens to make their voices heard.
Etta-Messi said voter education and public awareness are also key parts of INEC’s strategy. The commission continues to use radio, television, social media, and community outreach to inform Nigerians about the importance of registering and voting.
She encouraged eligible Nigerians who are 18 years and above to take advantage of the ongoing registration exercise.
According to INEC guidelines, first-time voters, those who have turned 18 since the last registration exercise, and those who need to transfer their registration can all participate.
As the registration exercise continues, many Nigerians are hopeful that the planned ward-level rotation will make a real difference. If successfully implemented, it could remove one of the major barriers preventing citizens from registering.
For now, INEC says it remains committed to improving access, increasing participation, and strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process ahead of future elections.
With the April 17 deadline approaching, the commission has urged citizens not to wait until the last minute but to register as early as possible, especially as new measures are introduced to bring the process closer to the people.