The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to closer collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to strengthen voter verification and safeguard credible elections.
The Commission made this known after the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, led her management team on a courtesy visit to the INEC headquarters in Abuja, where discussions centred on the newly signed National Identity Management Commission Act, 2026, and its implications for electoral administration.
During the meeting, Engr. Coker-Odusote described the new law, signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on June 26, 2026, as a landmark in Nigeria’s digital identity journey after nearly two decades of reforms.
She said the legislation elevates NIMC beyond maintaining the nation’s identity database to serving as Nigeria’s foundational digital identity authority and the home of the country’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Root Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), providing the digital trust framework for secure transactions and governance.
She stated that the reforms would strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy, reduce fraud, simplify access to public and private services, and improve electoral integrity through stronger identity verification systems.
“NIMC is ready to support INEC in delivering free, fair and transparent elections because identity remains the foundation of effective governance and credible electoral processes,” she said.
Director of Strategy and Programme Office at NIMC, Dr. Alba Nkoku, presented highlights of the new Act, explaining that it repositions the Commission from a traditional identity registration agency to Nigeria’s national digital trust anchor.
He said the legislation establishes the legal framework for digital public infrastructure, strengthens Nigeria’s digital sovereignty, promotes secure digital transactions and introduces digital identity credentials beyond the conventional identity card system.
Responding, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, described the new Act as a major milestone that broadens NIMC’s responsibilities beyond identity registration into a sovereign digital authority with wider applications across governance, commerce, land administration and other strategic sectors.
He noted that INEC sees significant opportunities for collaboration with NIMC in voter registration, identity verification and eliminating duplicate records.
Prof. Amupitan disclosed that the Commission’s online Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) platform already requires applicants to provide their National Identification Number (NIN) for identity verification, adding that stronger collaboration between both agencies would simplify voter registration while reinforcing the credibility of the electoral process.
“As we move from the era of technology into the era of artificial intelligence, it is imperative that we work together to establish the necessary safeguards and protocols to ensure the integrity, security and credibility of our data systems,” Prof. Amupitan said.
He expressed confidence that sustained cooperation between INEC and NIMC would strengthen Nigeria’s digital governance framework and deepen public confidence in future elections.