An independent, non-partisan civic organization known as the Think Yoruba First-Political Action Committee (TYF-PAC) has issued a compelling call to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a comprehensive review and reform of Nigeria's voter registration framework. This appeal is based on insights gathered from extensive grassroots voter registration and civic engagement activities conducted across multiple communities.
Challenges in the Current Registration Process
In an open letter dated Thursday and signed by Dr. Bukola Adeniji, the Director of TYF-PAC, the organization highlighted that its field operations have uncovered significant flaws in the existing system. The current two-step voter registration process, which involves online pre-registration followed by mandatory in-person biometric capture, is described as cumbersome and exclusionary for a large number of eligible voters.
According to TYF-PAC, this system acts as a major barrier rather than a facilitator of civic inclusion. Many citizens express a strong willingness to participate in elections, but practical obstacles such as time constraints, mobility issues, and economic pressures prevent them from completing the registration.
Specific Groups Affected
The organization pointed out that traders, artisans, and informal sector workers often struggle to abandon their daily livelihoods to visit registration centers. Additionally, residents of rural and remote communities face extra challenges due to limited internet access and the restricted reach of INEC officials.
TYF-PAC further observed that the online pre-registration stage poses difficulties for low-literacy and digitally underserved populations, who constitute a significant portion of Nigeria's eligible voters. A considerable number of registrants fail to complete the second stage after initiating the process online.
Persistent Issues and Proposed Solutions
Even among those who manage to complete both stages, delays in the issuance or collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) remain a persistent concern. TYF-PAC argued that these structural challenges contribute to voter apathy and exclusion, undermining efforts to broaden democratic participation.
The group suggested that Nigeria's existing National Identification Number (NIN) infrastructure, if properly integrated and secured, could support a more streamlined voter identification and verification process.
Recommended Reforms
Based on its findings, TYF-PAC recommended a series of reforms aimed at making voter registration more accessible and efficient. These include:
- Introduction of same-day voter registration and verification
- Expansion of registration locations to commercial centers, banks, and government offices
- Adoption of full online registration with instant confirmation
- Improved PVC delivery mechanisms
- Year-round registration
- Digital voter verification at polling units
- Formal accreditation of civic organizations to assist non-literate and digitally underserved citizens
Commitment to Civic Engagement
TYF-PAC emphasized its commitment to expanding civic participation and disclosed that it is building a verified voter engagement database as part of its voter education and advocacy initiatives. The organization expressed readiness to engage further with INEC through structured dialogue, stressing that Nigeria's democracy can only be strengthened through broad, fair, and practical access to participation.
In the open letter, TYF-PAC stated, "Our field operations revealed that Nigeria's current voter registration process is unnecessarily cumbersome and alienating to a large segment of eligible voters. The existing two-step registration process—online pre-registration followed by mandatory in-person biometric capture—creates a significant barrier to participation. In practice, the requirement for physical biometric capture has become a major bottleneck that discourages otherwise willing citizens from completing registration."
