2011 Nigeria National Elections
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creation of a new voter register using biometric technology. The voter registration, originally slated
for November 2010, was moved to January 15–30, 2011 (registration was eventually extended
through February 7). This milestone proved to be a critical first test of Jega's ability to execute a key
phase of the electoral preparation process. A successful voter registration would mark INEC's
progress and heighten overall confidence in Jega, INEC and, ultimately, the overall process. To help
ensure efficiency and reduce fraud, INEC planned to purchase and deploy approximately 120,000
direct data capture machines—an average of at least one machine per polling station. These
machines consisted of a laptop, webcam and biometric fingerprint scanner to capture identifying
details of an individual that would be difficult to fake.
According to the Nigerian press, and anecdotal evidence received by IRI staff in Nigeria, the first
few days of the registration process were fraught with errors and inconsistencies. INEC failed to
deliver direct data capture machines to all of the registration units and many arrived late. Collecting
fingerprint scans took longer than anticipated, and a number of direct data capture machines were
stolen from the registration centers. Software repeatedly malfunctioned and officials present at the
registrations were poorly trained, as indicated by their unfamiliarity with equipment and procedures.
Security seemed to have been inadequate, as registration officers reported harassment from both
individuals and political party representatives. In the first two days, it was estimated that only 16
percent of the registration stations had opened.
Despite these failures, INEC continued with the registration and learned from its mistakes as the
registration period progressed—software was adjusted so that it could more efficiently collect
fingerprints; delayed direct data capture machines arrived at the registration centers; and security was
augmented in specific areas where reports of theft and harassment had been high. As a result, daily
registrations steadily increased as more registration centers opened. By the end of the first week,
more than 90 percent of registration centers were functioning and reports of malfeasance had
diminished. The initial delays and the desire to register as many voters as possible meant INEC had
to extend voter registration an additional week until February 7. At the close of the registration
period, INEC officials reported that they had registered a total of 67,746,327 eligible Nigerian voters
(i.e., Nigerian citizens age 18 and older).
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Jega was widely applauded for undertaking a substantial
task with severe time constraints, and for INEC's ability to overcome the problems that arose at the
start of registration. INEC's initial missteps were offset by the organization's willingness to punish
employees engaged in fraudulent activity and by its ability to remain adaptable throughout the
registration period. The voter registration exercise was generally successful and public confidence in
INEC increased as the organization prepared for the April polls.
The completion of voter registration was a turning point for improving the public mood prior to the
April elections; it sharply contrasted with the voter registration conducted four years earlier. For the
2007 elections, voter registration commenced on October 25, 2006, but by November 20—almost a
full month later—only two million voters had been registered. This was primarily a result of not
having enough registration machines—only an estimated 3,000 machines had arrived and been
deployed by this date, and only 33,000 in total were expected to arrive (in contrast, Jega's INEC
ordered almost 120,000 machines). As of November 30, 2006, INEC declared that only 4.2 million
voters had been registered and reported only 18,000 machines deployed as of December 14. Voter
registration for the 2007 elections was extended through January 31, 2007—running a total of 98
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This initial number was provisional; the final number of registered voters was certified in March 2011 as 73,528,040.
