Nigeria's INEC Faces Voter Registration Push and Privacy Lawsuit

President‑candidate Peter Obi has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the ongoing voter‑registration exercise, arguing that daily additions of new voters risk being excluded before the 2027 general elections. Yiaga Africa, a Nigerian election‑monitoring NGO, has urged INEC to publish a clear protocol for the electronic transmission and collation of results ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship poll and the 2027 elections.

In a separate legal dispute, Nollywood actor Emeka Ike and FCT minister Nyesom Wike’s aide Lere Olayinka are engaged in a ₦10 billion privacy suit alleging that the actor’s voter‑registration details were posted on X without consent. A Federal High Court in Abuja has advised the parties to seek an out‑of‑court settlement, while INEC has argued that voter‑register information is public under the Electoral Act 2026 and not confidential. The commission’s counter‑affidavit stresses its statutory duty to make voter data available to the public.

Additional election‑related actions include INEC’s reminder to Ondo residents to register before the July 26 deadline, a PDP chieftain publicly endorsing Peter Obi for the 2027 presidency, and Obi’s meeting with outgoing British High Commissioner Richard Montgomery to discuss Nigeria’s democratic reforms.