COPDEM Urges INEC to Extend Voter Registration Deadline

The Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM) has formally requested the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise until at least 90 days before the 2027 General Elections. This demand is based on a Federal High Court judgment in Anaja Salmat & 3 Others v.

INEC (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1342/2022), delivered on November 22, 2022, which mandates that voter registration should continue until 90 days prior to a general election to protect the voting rights of eligible Nigerians.

COPDEM argues that an early closure of registration could disenfranchise millions and undermine the elections' credibility. They highlighted challenges such as insecurity, poverty, and inadequate registration facilities as barriers to voter registration.

COPDEM proposed that the CVR should remain open until around October 18, 2026, and called for additional registration centers and enhanced voter education. Rwang Pam Jr., the coalition's National Chairman, emphasized the importance of equal voting opportunities for all eligible citizens.