The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Sam Amadi, has criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its decision to close the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise months ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing the move as unreasonable and exclusionary.
INEC had earlier announced that the ongoing voter registration exercise would end on Sunday, July 26, urging eligible Nigerians to take advantage of the opportunity to register or update their voter information.
Reacting during an interview on Arise Television, Amadi argued that voter registration should remain open until at least one month before elections to ensure broader participation in the democratic process.
According to him, although INEC has made notable improvements in the conduct of elections, the electoral body still relies on outdated administrative processes.
“Closing voter registration nearly seven months before an election is unreasonable,” Amadi said.
“It prevents many young Nigerians who turn 18 before Election Day from registering to vote, effectively denying them the opportunity to participate until the next election cycle.”
The legal scholar maintained that extending the registration period would allow more eligible citizens, particularly first-time voters, to exercise their constitutional right to vote.
Beyond the electoral process, Amadi also weighed in on Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, asserting that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is facing internal challenges despite appearing stable because it controls political power.
In a post shared on his verified X handle, Amadi argued that while the APC currently benefits from being the party in government, its internal divisions would become more evident as the election approaches.
“Actually apart from @OfficialAPCNg there is no truly organized political party in Nigeria,” he wrote.
“APC is fairly stable because it is in power to share patronage. Even at that, it is in a serious crisis as it will unfold close to the election.”
Amadi also expressed confidence in the political loyalty of supporters of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, describing them as the most dependable voting bloc heading into the 2027 elections.
According to him, while political movements associated with Obi and other opposition groups may currently be experiencing internal disagreements, the commitment of Obi’s supporters remains intact.
“Obidient movement may be in crisis, OK movement may be in crisis. NDC may be in crisis.
“But most @PeterObi voters are not in crisis. They will be the most reliable voters in 2027,” he stated.
He further observed that Nigeria’s political environment remains deeply troubled, expressing hope that a stronger political movement capable of driving national transformation would eventually emerge.
“Nigeria is a massive crisis, nothing new. We wait to see how these crises play out in 2027.
“We need a strong political movement beyond all these to save Nigeria. Hopefully, after 2027, the real work begins,” he added.