Two improbable cheers for Nigerian democracy. The loudest one should be for Attahiru Jega’s efforts as Chairman of the Independent National Election Commission to ensure the registration of more than 60 million electors in a month. Despite widespread scepticism that Nigeria could accurately register so many people so fast on data storage systems – it took Bangladesh a year to register a similar number – Jega appears to have hit his target.

INEC reported 54.9 million registrations by 31 January before announcing a week’s extension. Officials reckon some 62 million electors will be registered when the lists are distributed for checking in a month’s time. For a population of some 160 million, over half of whom are under 18, those numbers look credible but they will need to be tested for duplication and fraud.

INEC reported 54.9 million registrations by 31 January before announcing a week’s extension. Officials reckon some 62 million electors will be registered when the lists are distributed for checking in a month’s time. For a population of some 160 million, over half of whom are under 18, those numbers look credible but they will need to be tested for duplication and fraud. Jega told politicians and their thuggish aides in the northern Sokoto State to stop intimidating INEC officials to get them to accept multiple and underage registrations. There are also worries that violence in Jos, Bauchi and Maiduguri has disrupted registration there, which could reinforce local tensions unless special provisions are made. The long, generally patient queues waiting to register suggest more enthusiasm than in previous polls and reflect all the parties’ efforts to get younger Nigerians to vote. Now it is up to the people to protect their votes and up to civic groups to ensure effective monitoring of the registration checks, election campaign etiquette and, above all, the voting and counting in April.