• Pledges collaboration with NIMC to enhance CVR
• Tasks agency on unified citizenship database

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has hinted that Nigerians may in future elections be able to vote from any location across the country.

This came as the Commission mulls the adoption of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) database as the foundation for future voters’ registers.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, dropped the hint, yesterday, when the Director-General of the NIMC, Dr Bisoye Coker-Odusote, led her management team on a visit to the INEC headquarters in Abuja.

Yakubu said that while INEC holds the database of citizens for the purpose of elections, NIMC has the record of citizens generally.

According to him, the two agencies hold the largest biometric databases of citizens in Nigeria.

The INEC boss explained that integrating the two agencies’ biometric databases would strengthen identity management and remove the current restrictions that compel citizens to vote only where they registered.

He said that it was due to the collaboration that NIMC is deploying its officials to some of the registration centres during the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

He said that the idea is to provide more Nigerians who are yet to enrol for the National Identification Number (NIN) the opportunity to do so.

Speaking, the NIMC DG affirmed the agency’s full commitment to the partnership, describing it as a pivotal move toward establishing a unified identity database.

Coker-Odusote stressed that the initiative would enhance governance, promote accountability, and ensure inclusive access for all Nigerians.

The INEC, which has also reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate with the NIMC during the CVR exercise, said that the partnership would allow eligible citizens who have not yet registered with the NIMC to participate in both data-capturing exercises simultaneously.

He expressed hope that the initiative would enable INEC to utilise the citizenship register for future elections, as is practised in many jurisdictions around the world.

Earlier in her remark, the Director-General of NIMC said the mission of the agency ” is the integration and harmonisation of data across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).”

She noted that the collaboration with INEC was key to credible elections, and would ultimately deepen democracy.

“The goal before us is crucial. We must provide systems that the public can trust and also ensure that we meet the expectations of Nigerians while faithfully discharging our mandate in line with the will of the people.

“In this regard, one of the important steps we are taking to advance this cause is to work closely with INEC during the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. Our aim is to ensure that NIMC is present at selected registration centres, providing Nigerians at the community level with the opportunity to enrol for the National Identification Number (NIN) while they register as voters.

“This joint initiative reflects our shared commitment to strengthening identity management and electoral integrity in Nigeria.”