The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election and a leading opposition figure ahead of the 2027 presidential election, Peter Obi. Photo: X | Peter Obi.
The presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to extend the ongoing voter registration to the latest practical date before the 2027 general elections, saying the move would ensure that more eligible Nigerians are not excluded from the electoral process.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Obi said the extension was necessary because “every day, more young Nigerians attain the age of 18 and become constitutionally eligible to vote.”
“They are not just our future; they are stakeholders in our present. It would be unfortunate if many of them were denied the opportunity to exercise their civic responsibility simply because the registration process closed long before the elections,” he said.
Obi argued that his position was supported by a Federal High Court judgment delivered on November 22, 2022, in Anaja Salmat & 3 Others v. INEC (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1342/2022), which, according to him, held that voter registration should continue until 90 days before a general election “to protect the constitutional voting rights of eligible Nigerians.” Related News Atiku undermining Nigeria by lobbying against Tinubu in US — Presidency No more hostilities, Akpabio apologises as Oshiomhole recalls ‘massaging woman’s legs’ jibe INEC promises credible 2027 polls
