Nigeria - November 2022

With only three months until the February 2023 elections in Nigeria, many CSOs have been active in highlighting any procedural problems or restrictions on political rights. After a process of internal review during which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) purged the voter register of 2.7 million ineligible registrants, INEC published the preliminary voter registry for public review. CSOs were quick to bring attention to potential problems relating to the registration of persons who may be too young to vote, and others who may be registered more than once. Following public input, the registry is to be corrected before the election. In isolated, but concerning incidents, two INEC local offices were the targets of arson in Ogun State and Osun State. Given the understaffing, logistical challenges (including matters around voter registration), and violence that marred the 2019 election, these matters in Nigeria must be carefully monitored.

Sources: The Guardian (Nigeria), Sahara Reporters, Al Arabiya, Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa