The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration to enhance identity verification and boost the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, made the commitment while receiving the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, and her management team during a courtesy visit to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Amupitan described the recently signed National Identity Management Commission Act, 2026, as a major milestone that would deepen collaboration between both agencies and support efforts to build a more secure, transparent and credible electoral system.
“The enactment of the National Identity Management Commission Act, 2026, is a significant step towards strengthening our collaboration and building a more secure and transparent electoral system,” he said.
He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to leveraging technology and digital identity systems to improve the integrity of elections across the country.
“We remain committed to working closely with NIMC to ensure that technology continues to strengthen identity verification and reinforce public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process,” Amupitan added.
Speaking during the visit, Coker-Odusote said the NIMC Act, signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on June 26, 2026, marks a historic transformation of the Commission after nearly two decades of institutional reforms.
“The new NIMC Act is a historic milestone that transforms the Commission from being merely a custodian of Nigeria’s identity database into the nation’s foundational digital identity authority,” she said.
According to her, the legislation positions NIMC as the home of Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Root Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), providing the digital trust framework required for secure digital transactions, identity authentication and public service delivery.
“This reform is about much more than identity management. It is about creating a trusted digital ecosystem that supports governance, economic growth and national development,” she said.
Coker-Odusote noted that the reforms would strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy, reduce identity fraud, simplify access to public and private sector services, and improve electoral integrity through more reliable identity verification.
“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.
She added that collaboration between both agencies would ensure that Nigerians benefit from a secure and trusted identity system capable of supporting credible elections and accelerating the country’s digital transformation.
“We look forward to deepening this partnership with INEC to build a digital identity ecosystem that strengthens democracy, promotes transparency and inspires public confidence in our institutions,” Coker-Odusote added.