The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider the inclusion of the National Identity Number (NIN) as a mandatory requirement for voter registration, warning that the policy could disenfranchise millions of eligible Nigerians.
The appeal was made on Wednesday during an inter-faith breaking of the fast with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, which brought together the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the leadership of IPAC.
IPAC Chairman Yusuf Dantalle raised concerns over the newly signed 2026 Electoral Law, urging the President to address specific provisions that he argued could undermine voter participation.
Dantalle specifically cited the mandatory requirement for NIN during voter registration and the removal of the indirect mode for party nominations as issues requiring urgent attention.
“Many eligible voters might be disenfranchised by the requirement for NIN and the removal of the indirect mode for party nominations as enshrined in the newly signed 2026 Electoral Law,” Dantalle told the President.
He also appealed for the restoration of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) financial support for political parties, which he described as critical for their effective operation and participation in the electoral process.
In his response, President Tinubu reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law, assuring party leaders that their concerns would be heard.
“The Chairman of IPAC, Yusuf Dantalle, provoked some questions. I am glad we are all democrats. And we all subscribe to this democracy voluntarily, willingly, and we’ve been at it selflessly in the last 26 years,” the President said.
Drawing from his personal history in the pro-democracy movement, Tinubu recalled the struggles that paved the way for Nigeria’s current democratic dispensation.
“Some of us had been bruised struggling for it. We were detained, we protested, we had street demonstrations, we went into exile and all of that. We formed NADECO. I followed the leadership destiny that God has chosen for me. There’s no doubt about it. I am a die-hard democrat.
“I followed that belief wholeheartedly, committed to a united Nigeria, and that principle and the philosophy will live and die with me,” he stated.
The President assured that under his watch, democrats have nothing to fear, emphasizing that the rule of law remains sacrosanct.
“There’s no threat from any democrat under my watch. The rule of law must prevail in any democracy. The majority will have their way, and the minority will have their say and their way. I must not stand in their way. That is the sweetness, the essence of democracy,” Tinubu added.
He also committed to ensuring free and fair elections, noting that he remains a registered voter on the same platform as all other Nigerians.
APC Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda commended the President for his inclusive leadership and assured him of the party’s support in realizing his vision for the country.
Dantalle also informed the President that a documentary titled “Unbroken Democracy,” chronicling 26 years of democratic governance in Nigeria, has been produced with the support of Governor Hope Uzodimma, Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum. The film is scheduled to premiere at the State House soon.
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