By Sunday Ani
Democracy Network (Dem Net), an NGO, has launched a campaign called “Register 18” to advocate for continuous voter registration in Nigeria, as outlined in the Electoral Act. The campaign aims to address the current lack of year-round registration opportunities in the country, and it has been specifically targeting universities across Nigeria.
Uzoma Aneto, the Nigeria Team Lead for the campaign, spoke at the Pan Atlantic University in Lagos, emphasizing that the Electoral Act allows for continuous voter registration but lamented that it is not being implemented effectively in Nigeria. Aneto called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to open its registration portal to individuals who turn 18 years old, highlighting that restricting access to the portal only during election campaigns would disenfranchise many young Nigerians.
The “Register 18” campaign has received sponsorship from various organizations, including the University of Massachusetts, Boston; the Department of State, USA; Nextier; and the Centre for Democracy and Development. In collaboration with partners such as Lite Africa, Yiaga Africa, Plus Tv/Niaja Info, and Ndi Oduko Foundation, Dem Net aims to ensure that the INEC registration portal remains open throughout the year. This is crucial because every day, young Nigerians reach the age of 18, and if they are unable to register during that time, they risk being excluded from the electoral process.
The campaign seeks to examine the purpose of the Electoral Act, compare voter registration practices in other countries, and identify areas where improvements can be made to encourage wider participation in the electoral process. As part of a network of NGOs operating in 17 African countries, Dem Net is dedicated to promoting democratic changes across the continent.
Apart from engaging with universities to mobilize and educate young people about the importance of voter registration, the organization has also held meetings with political party leaders and conducted media interactions to raise awareness. School campaigns have been carried out in universities such as the University of Abuja, University of Calabar, and ongoing efforts at the Pan Atlantic University. These initiatives aim to encourage young people to register well in advance of elections and to advocate for continuous registration.
Dem Net has also partnered with change.org, an organization that provides an online platform for campaigns. Through the “Register 18” campaign at www.change.org/register18, individuals can sign up to support continuous voter registration. Each sign-up generates an email notification to INEC, urging them to implement the provisions of the Electoral Act (Sections 10 to 12) regarding practical and ongoing voter registration. This approach aims to demonstrate the strong demand for accessible and continuous registration processes among the Nigerian population.