Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has demanded an immediate explanation from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the alleged failure to make Nigeria’s preliminary voters’ register available online for public scrutiny ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku argued that the commission’s announcement that Nigeria had more than 103 million registered voters was insufficient without allowing citizens to verify their details, identify omissions and challenge questionable entries.
In a statement issued on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, the former vice-president questioned why the register was reportedly inaccessible during the inspection period announced by INEC.
The commission had scheduled a seven-day public scrutiny exercise from October 9 to 15, 2026, to enable registered voters to check their information and raise objections where necessary.
Atiku alleged that Nigerians who visited INEC’s online portal during the period were unable to access the register, raising concerns about transparency in preparations for the elections.
He also questioned what he described as conflicting statements regarding when the public inspection exercise took place, demanding that the electoral body clarify the dates and provide evidence of when and where the register was published.
The ADC chieftain further raised concerns about provisions in the Electoral Act 2026 relating to the authentication of ballot papers without INEC’s official mark. He called for clear safeguards to prevent counterfeit ballots and ensure disputed votes could be properly scrutinised.
Atiku also alleged that INEC had yet to respond to enquiries about the companies awarded contracts to print sensitive election materials, describing transparency as essential to building public confidence in the electoral process.
He urged the commission to publish the preliminary register by local government area, area council and ward, giving voters adequate opportunity to correct errors and challenge suspicious entries.
The former vice-president also called on international partners, election observers and democratic institutions to press INEC to address the concerns before election day.
His intervention adds to growing public scrutiny of electoral preparations as political parties and stakeholders begin positioning themselves for the 2027 polls.
The allegations concern the accessibility of the register and the transparency of the process. INEC’s response will be important in establishing the circumstances surrounding the reported difficulty accessing the list.
