The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is under increasing scrutiny as questions about its sincerity in ensuring credible elections in 2027 persist. Following reports of major irregularities in the voter register, INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan has initiated corrective measures.
During a recent press briefing in Abuja, Amupitan disclosed that the commission has removed over 1.6 million invalid registrations identified through the automated biometric identification system (ABIS). He stated that among these were 873 records associated with verified deceased individuals, bringing the total deletions to 1,609,553.
This clean-up effort comes in response to public backlash following the release of a preliminary voter register, which revealed disturbing findings, including alleged use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to generate photographs, duplicate registrations, and fictitious identities. These allegations have led to widespread calls for greater transparency and an independent audit of the voter register.
Amupitan noted that Nigeria’s National Register of Voters had grown to over 103 million, attributed in part to recent phases of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which generated more than 10 million new registrations subject to verification.
Nevertheless, public concerns remain high, with citizens questioning the integrity of these new entries, particularly amidst reports highlighting suspicious increases in voter registration numbers in certain polling units. For instance, in Edo State, one unit saw a dramatic increase from 397 to 4,783 registered voters, representing a rise of over 1,100%. Similar trends were reported in Akwa State, prompting fears of potential election rigging.
INEC has committed to investigating these irregularities and has promised to certify a final voter register by December 15, 2026. The commission stated that it is reviewing registration records in order to address any inaccuracies before firming up the final document.
In a statement, Mohammed Haruna, the Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, emphasized the importance of public scrutiny during the Display, Claims and Objections exercise, which aims to allow citizens to identify and report inaccuracies.
As the December deadline approaches, the focus remains on whether INEC can successfully rectify the anomalies and restore public confidence in its ability to conduct fair elections. Amupitan has reiterated his commitment to ensuring credible elections, emphasizing the need for accurate and legitimate voter data as vital to the integrity of the electoral process.
