The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to deepen its collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to eliminate duplicate voter records and strengthen identity verification ahead of future elections, including the 2027 general polls.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), disclosed this on Wednesday while receiving the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, and her management team during a courtesy visit to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Prof. Amupitan said the partnership follows the signing of the National Identity Management Commission Act, 2026, describing the legislation as a significant milestone in efforts to build a more secure, transparent and credible electoral system.
He noted that the Commission sees vast opportunities for collaboration with NIMC, particularly in voter registration, identity verification and the elimination of duplicate voter records.
According to him, INEC’s newly introduced online Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) platform already requires prospective voters to provide their National Identification Number (NIN) for identity verification. He added that closer integration between both agencies would further simplify voter registration while enhancing the credibility of the electoral process.
“As we move from the era of technology into the era of artificial intelligence, it is imperative that we work together to establish the necessary safeguards and protocols to ensure the integrity, security and credibility of our data systems,” Prof. Amupitan said.
Speaking during the meeting, NIMC Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said the newly enacted NIMC Act, signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on June 26, 2026, marks a historic transformation of the Commission after nearly two decades of reforms.
She explained that the new legislation elevates NIMC from being solely the custodian of Nigeria’s identity database to the country’s foundational digital identity authority, making it the home of Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Root Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), which provides the digital trust framework for secure transactions and governance.
Coker-Odusote said the reforms would strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy, reduce fraud, simplify access to public and private services, and enhance electoral integrity through more robust identity verification systems.
“NIMC is ready to support INEC in delivering free, fair and transparent elections because identity remains the foundation of effective governance and credible electoral processes,” she said.
Also speaking, NIMC’s Director of Strategy and Programme Office, Dr. Alba Nkoku, who presented highlights of the new Act, said the legislation repositions the Commission from a traditional identity registration agency to Nigeria’s national digital trust anchor.
According to him, the Act provides the legal framework for Digital Public Infrastructure, strengthens Nigeria’s digital sovereignty, promotes secure digital transactions and introduces digital identity credentials beyond the conventional identity card system.
Responding, Prof. Amupitan described the new law as a landmark achievement that expands NIMC’s role beyond identity registration into a sovereign digital authority capable of transforming governance, commerce, land administration and other critical sectors.
He also commended Coker-Odusote for what he described as the remarkable progress recorded under her leadership, noting that NIMC has become a key driver of Nigeria’s digital transformation.
The INEC Chairman expressed confidence that the growing partnership between both agencies would strengthen Nigeria’s digital governance architecture and boost public confidence in future elections.
