By Lizzy Chirkpi
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the recently concluded Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and voter data update exercise by at least one month, warning that millions of eligible Nigerians could be disenfranchised ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the civil rights organisation said the extension was necessary to ensure that more Nigerians are able to exercise their constitutional right to vote.
HURIWA expressed concern over what it described as INEC’s failure to embark on an aggressive nationwide voter education campaign despite growing voter apathy, widespread distrust in the electoral process, and persistent concerns over vote buying, electoral violence, and political intimidation.
According to the organisation, many eligible Nigerians—including youths who recently attained voting age, students, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and citizens seeking to transfer or update their voter records—were unable to complete the registration process due to limited access to registration centres, network failures, transportation challenges, and inadequate public awareness.
“It would amount to a serious democratic injustice if these Nigerians are denied the opportunity to vote simply because the electoral commission refused to accommodate legitimate public concerns. Every eligible citizen deserves a fair opportunity to register and participate in choosing those who govern the country,” the statement said.
HURIWA also criticised what it described as INEC’s silence on the growing menace of vote buying and vote selling, noting that there was little evidence of a sustained nationwide campaign to discourage the practice.
The organisation argued that although vote buying and vote selling are criminal offences under the Electoral Act, weak enforcement has emboldened politicians to continue violating the law without fear of prosecution.
It further expressed concern over the absence of a coordinated strategy involving security and anti-corruption agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to prevent and prosecute electoral offences.
“It is not enough to warn politicians against vote buying. Nigerians deserve to see concrete preparations, intelligence gathering, surveillance, strategic deployment of personnel, and clear operational plans for identifying, arresting, and prosecuting those who seek to corrupt the electoral process through bribery, intimidation, or violence,” the statement added.
HURIWA warned that Nigeria risks experiencing even greater voter apathy unless urgent measures are taken to restore public confidence in the electoral system.
The group urged INEC to collaborate with civil society organisations, religious bodies, traditional institutions, professional associations, youth and women groups, community-based organisations, and the media to launch an intensive nationwide voter mobilisation campaign encouraging eligible Nigerians to register, collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and participate actively in the democratic process.
According to HURIWA, extending the voter registration exercise by one month would strengthen, rather than undermine, the credibility of the 2027 general elections by promoting broader participation and inclusiveness.
The organisation maintained that credible elections are built on inclusion, transparency, accountability, public confidence, and the strict enforcement of electoral laws, urging INEC to act swiftly to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 polls.