From mercy Peter
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has debunked claims that recent online pre-registration figures from Osun State are irregular, insisting that the trend is consistent with historical patterns.
The rebuttal came on Thursday in response to a statement by the spokesperson of a political party, who had alleged that Osun’s registration figures “defy historical patterns and demographic realities.”
INEC noted that such assertions are baseless and ignore verifiable records already in the public domain.
According to the Commission, between August 18 and 24, 2025, a total of 1,379,342 Nigerians completed their online pre-registration, with Osun State accounting for the highest share at 393,269, followed by Lagos State (222,205) and the Federal Capital Territory (107,682).
The Commission emphasized that Osun’s dominance in online registration is not unprecedented. In 2021, when INEC first introduced online pre-registration, Osun consistently topped the charts. For instance, within the first 24 hours of the 2021 exercise, 59,331 accounts were created, with Osun leading at 154,893 pre-registrations by the second week. By April 2022, at the close of that cycle, Osun had registered 708,782 voters, the highest in the country.
“If the party were proactive enough, a simple search of past records already in the public domain would have revealed these facts,” said Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman.
The Commission further explained that all online pre-registrants must complete their registration in person at designated centres where their biometrics are captured.
During the 2021/2022 exercise, the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) was deployed to eliminate double registration.
INEC stressed that the same due diligence applies to the current Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), assuring that only eligible Nigerians who meet the constitutional and legal requirements will be included in the voters’ register.
Recalling past exercises, INEC highlighted that over 14 million Nigerians were added to the register for the 2019 General Election, raising the figure to 84 million voters, while the 2021/2022 CVR brought in 9.4 million new voters, increasing the register to 93.4 million for the 2023 elections.
The Commission urged political parties and stakeholders to rely on “authentic and verifiable data” from INEC’s official platforms rather than spreading conjecture.
“Our duty as a Commission, which we take seriously, is to ensure that only real persons who meet the criteria stipulated in the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022 are allowed to register,” Oyekanmi added.
