The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State has dismissed allegations of manipulation in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise raised by the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In a statement issued on Monday, INEC described the claims as “unfounded, baseless and inaccurate,” stressing that the registration figures align with established demographic patterns and past voter registration trends in Lagos.
According to the commission, Lagos has consistently recorded high numbers of voter registrations due to its large, youthful, and tech-savvy population.
During the last CVR exercise (2021–2022), the state registered the highest number of voters nationwide, with figures rising from 6,570,291 to 7,060,195 after the exercise.
INEC explained that the present data does not only represent new registrants but also includes transfers, replacements of lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and updates to personal information.
The commission warned that equating the total numbers solely with fresh registrations was misleading.
The statement, signed by the Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Taiwo Gbadegesin, noted that the growth in figures reflects not just the effectiveness of the Commission’s deployment but also the impact of sustained public awareness efforts across Lagos State.
Reiterating its commitment to transparency, INEC Lagos said it maintains an open-door policy, making daily registration data accessible to interested stakeholders.
It urged political actors and the public to avoid needless speculations and rely instead on verified data and official information.
“INEC Lagos State remains fully committed to its constitutional mandate of delivering free, fair, transparent and credible elections, beginning with an inclusive, credible and accountable voter registration,” the statement concluded.
Writing by Wahab Akinlade