The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have pledged to deepen their collaboration to strengthen Nigeria’s identity management system and improve electoral processes across the country.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by NIMC’s Director General, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, to INEC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, described the partnership as “strategic and long-term,” stressing its potential to transform voter registration and enhance citizen participation in elections.
Prof. Yakubu highlighted the complementary roles of both agencies, noting that while INEC manages the national register of voters, NIMC maintains the country’s central database of citizens. He explained that the integration of these two systems could pave the way for a more seamless and credible electoral process in the future.
“We look forward to the day when NIMC’s database becomes the single source of truth for citizenship identification in Nigeria,” Prof. Yakubu said.
“At that point, the voter register can simply draw from the citizenship register, similar to practices in many other countries. This may also enable citizens to vote from any location nationwide rather than being restricted to polling units where they initially registered.”
As part of the ongoing synergy, Prof. Yakubu disclosed that NIMC officials will now be stationed at selected Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) centres across the country. This will allow Nigerians to register for their National Identification Number (NIN) and enroll as voters simultaneously.
He revealed that a successful pilot scheme was conducted in Anambra State between July 8 and July 20, 2025, adding that the initiative will be expanded nationwide in the coming weeks.
“NIMC will soon provide a full list of CVR centres and details of how NIN registration will be conducted alongside voter registration,” he stated.
In her remarks, Engr. Coker-Odusote reaffirmed NIMC’s commitment to harmonizing identity data across government agencies, describing the partnership with INEC as one of the most critical to the nation’s democracy.
“Our goal is to provide a trusted identity system that supports credible elections,” she said.
“This collaboration ensures that citizens at the grassroots level can access both NIN enrollment and voter registration services, strengthening the integrity of the entire electoral process.”
The NIMC boss also disclosed that the commission is currently working with over 14 statutory agencies, but emphasised that its relationship with INEC is pivotal, given the centrality of elections to national development.
Both organisations pledged to continue working closely to enhance transparency, integrity, and inclusiveness in Nigeria’s identity management and electoral systems.