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Summary
INEC has clarified and defended its controversial demand of N1.5bn from a law firm, V.C. Ottaokpukpu &Associates. The Commission insisted that the amount strictly reflects the volume of documentation requested and as stipulated by the law.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified and defended the N1.5bn fee demand from a law firm, V.C. Ottaokpukpu, for its request for certified copies of the national register of voters and polling units data. This request was made on October 8, 2025, and approved on October 13, 2025.
In the Commission’s clarified statement signed by Ms Victoria Eta-Messi, Director of Voter Education and Publicity, and made public on Thursday, October 16, 2025. The Commission clarified that the amount is in strict compliance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2011 and the Electoral Act of 2022. The amount reflects the cost of document duplication as stipulated by law.
“Printing the existing polling units in the electoral wards across the country, covering 176,848 polling units, will require 4,946 pages. The total number of pages to be printed for both requests is therefore 6,023,607, at a unit cost of ₦250 per page, resulting in the total sum of ₦1,505,901,750,” part of the statement reads.
INEC insisted that the quoted sum represents only the actual cost of document duplication and transcription, with no additional or hidden fees. The Commission assured the public of its commitment to transparency, accountability, and prudent management of public resources.
Additionally, the Commission directed the law firm to make payment through Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) before the request can be fulfilled.
