Lawyer Threatens To Sue INEC Over Voter Registration Shutdown

A human rights lawyer, Ikechukwu Obasi, has threatened legal action against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the suspension of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Obasi, in a letter dated September 2, 2026, addressed to the INEC Chairman, demanded the immediate reopening of the voter registration portal.

He argued that the commission’s decision to halt the exercise prematurely violates provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

The lawyer, who said he was acting on behalf of eligible Nigerians yet to register, as well as those seeking replacement of misplaced, damaged, defaced or destroyed Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), urged INEC to resume the exercise nationwide.

According to him, Sections 9(6), 10(1) and 18(1)-(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026 provide that voter registration and PVC replacement should continue until not later than 90 days before a general election.

He also cited INEC’s timetable for the 2027 general elections, arguing that the statutory 90-day period would elapse on October 18, 2026.

“It therefore follows that the law mandates INEC to keep the voters’ register open up until 18th October, 2026 and not a day earlier,” Obasi stated.

He contended that shutting down the CVR exercise before the statutory deadline could disenfranchise millions of Nigerians, particularly young people who have attained the age of 18 and become eligible to vote.

“Reports across the country show that millions of eligible Nigerians, especially youths who have attained 18 years, have not been able to register due to the premature suspension of CVR,” he said.

“Closing registration before 18th October, 2026 will disenfranchise them contrary to Section 77(2) of the 1999 Constitution.”

Obasi further accused INEC of abusing its administrative discretion by suspending the registration exercise ahead of what he described as the legally prescribed deadline.

“To close CVR before the statutory 90-day deadline is a violation of the mandatory provision of the Electoral Act, 2026 and an abuse of administrative discretion,” he warned.

He maintained that INEC has a constitutional and statutory obligation to provide eligible citizens with a meaningful opportunity to participate in the electoral process.

The lawyer therefore demanded that the commission reopen the CVR portal and sustain the exercise until October 18, 2026, saying this would give eligible Nigerians the opportunity to register, obtain or replace their PVCs and participate in the 2027 elections.

Obasi gave INEC five days from the receipt of his letter to comply, warning that he would approach the court to compel the commission to perform what he described as its statutory duty.

“I expect compliance with this demand within 5 days of receipt of this missive, failure of which I will be left with no option other than to seek appropriate legal remedy to compel compliance with your statutory duty and to protect the right of Nigerians to vote,” he stated.

INEC had ended the voter registration exercise on July 24, 2026, as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.

The latest demand is not the first call for an extension of the registration window.

In July, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, also urged INEC to extend the exercise to allow more eligible Nigerians, particularly first-time voters, to register.

Obi argued that thousands of Nigerians attain the constitutional voting age of 18 daily and should not be excluded from the electoral process because the registration window closed months before the elections.

“As we continue to encourage Nigerians to participate actively in our democracy, I respectfully appeal to INEC to consider extending the voter registration window to the latest practical date that still allows adequate time for the preparation of a credible voters’ register before the 2027 general elections,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor also referenced a Federal High Court judgment delivered on November 22, 2022, in Anaja Salmat & 3 Others v. INEC (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1342/2022), which he said affirmed that continuous voter registration should remain open until 90 days before a general election.

Obi acknowledged the logistical demands involved in updating the voters’ register but maintained that electoral credibility must be balanced with inclusiveness.