INEC: No Evidence Nigerians Have Lost Faith in Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed claims that Nigerians have lost confidence in the country’s electoral process, insisting that such assertions are unfounded and not supported by facts.

In recent weeks, civil society and religious groups have voiced concerns about growing voter disillusionment. But in a statement to The PUNCH on Sunday, INEC Chairman’s Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said evidence shows strong public participation, particularly among young people, in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

“The notion that Nigerians have lost confidence in the electoral process is more of a myth than a reality, as those who proclaim it lack convincing evidence to support it,” Oyekanmi said.

He noted that since the CVR portal went live on August 18, 2025, the response has been overwhelming. Within the first seven hours, 69,376 Nigerians pre-registered online. By August 24, the figure had jumped to 1.37 million, and by September 21—just five weeks later—5.38 million Nigerians had uploaded their details.

For in-person registration, which began on August 25, more than 764,000 Nigerians had completed the process within one month. Oyekanmi described the figures as “unmatched anywhere else in Africa within such a short period.”

Reflecting on the 2023 general elections, Oyekanmi said they produced the most politically diverse National Assembly since 1999. Seven parties won Senate seats, while eight secured representation in the House of Representatives. At the state level, nine parties gained seats across State Assemblies, with four different parties winning governorships.

According to him, even the most recent bye-elections show that Nigerians “have kept faith with the electoral process.”

Oyekanmi also criticised critics of the commission for what he described as double standards. “Ironically, some of the most ardent critics of INEC are in the forefront of calling for electoral reform to transfer Local Government elections to the same commission. Surely, they cannot continue to walk on both sides of the road,” he said.