The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in strengthening electoral integrity through secure digital identity verification, following the enactment of the National Identity Management Commission Act, 2026.
The assurance was given during a courtesy visit by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, and members of her management team to the headquarters of INEC in Abuja.
Speaking during the meeting, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), described the new legislation as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to enhance the credibility of elections through improved identity management systems.
Amupitan reiterated the commission’s commitment to deepening collaboration with NIMC, noting that stronger cooperation between both institutions would help improve identity verification processes, reduce electoral fraud and promote public confidence in the electoral system.
“Closer cooperation between the two agencies would improve identity verification processes, reduce electoral fraud and support the conduct of free, fair and transparent elections,” he said.
Nigeria has increasingly adopted technology-driven reforms to improve election management and transparency, including the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). Identity verification has also emerged as a critical component of broader electoral reforms aimed at ensuring credible elections.
On her part, Coker-Odusote described the newly enacted NIMC Act, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on June 26, 2026, as a transformative development in Nigeria’s identity management architecture.
She explained that the legislation elevates NIMC beyond its traditional role as a custodian of the national identity database, positioning it as the country’s foundational digital identity authority.
“The newly enacted NIMC Act, signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on June 26, 2026, marks a historic transformation of the Commission after nearly two decades of reforms,” she said.
According to her, the new law establishes NIMC as the home of Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure and Root Public Key Infrastructure, creating a framework that will support secure digital transactions, governance processes and public service delivery.
Coker-Odusote noted that the reforms would help reduce identity fraud, simplify access to government and private sector services and strengthen transparency across various sectors, including elections.
“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 stated.
She expressed confidence that closer collaboration between both agencies would enhance voter authentication systems and contribute to the overall integrity of future elections.
The partnership forms part of broader efforts by the Federal Government to deepen digital governance and modernise public institutions through integrated identity management systems, with stakeholders expressing optimism that improved identity verification mechanisms will strengthen democratic processes and public trust in elections.
