Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has demanded the immediate publication of the preliminary voters’ register by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warning that its alleged unavailability online could undermine public confidence in the 2027 general election.
Atiku made the demand in a statement issued on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council.
He said Nigerians should be able to inspect the register, identify questionable entries and correct omissions before the elections.
“INEC has announced more than 103 million registered voters. Nigerians went to its portal to inspect the names and found an empty page. That is an outrage. A figure cannot answer an objection. A press announcement cannot tell a voter whether her name has been omitted. Show Nigerians the register,” he said.
INEC had announced a public scrutiny exercise for the preliminary voters’ register from 9 to 15 October, during which registered voters were expected to verify their details, challenge questionable entries and report omitted names.
However, Atiku alleged that the commission failed to make the register available online during the stipulated period, raising questions about its compliance with the Electoral Act 2026.
“I cannot recall a more brazen invitation to distrust the voter register. INEC announced a seven-day exercise and then failed to make the register available on the portal provided for public scrutiny,” he said.
Atiku cited Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which provides for public scrutiny of the register at registration areas and online. He urged the commission to publish the list by local government, area council and ward.
The former vice-president also questioned what he described as conflicting statements regarding the timing of the public display.
He said INEC’s chairman had reportedly announced on 5 October that the exercise had already been completed, while subsequent communication indicated that it would take place between 9 and 15 October.
“Which statement is true? Where was the register published? For seven full days, or for no days at all?” he asked.
Atiku demanded that INEC release the dates, links and access records relating to the alleged online publication to clarify the circumstances surrounding the exercise.
He also raised concerns about ballot paper authentication, citing Section 63(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which allows a returning officer to count a ballot paper without the commission’s official mark if satisfied that it came from a book supplied to the polling unit.
“What evidence will establish that origin? Who will verify it, and how will parties challenge a false claim?” he asked.
Atiku called on INEC to establish enforceable safeguards against counterfeit ballot papers and urged the National Assembly to address any gaps in the legal framework that could leave ballot authentication dependent on an officer’s unsupported assurance.
The ADC campaign council also alleged that INEC had yet to respond to enquiries about the companies awarded contracts to print sensitive election materials.
Atiku maintained that the ADC and its presidential candidate were entitled, as electoral stakeholders, to demand transparency regarding the procedures and safeguards governing the polls.
Addressing President Bola Tinubu, he argued that Nigerians should not be expected to trust an electoral process without access to the register used to determine who can vote.
“You cannot hide their names from scrutiny and then ask them to trust the election conducted with that list. Nigerians have the right to inspect the register, challenge false entries and correct omissions. If that right is denied, we will challenge it in the open and through every lawful means available,” he said.
He warned that the alleged lack of access could prevent voters from verifying whether their names had been added to or removed from the register and whether their personal details had been correctly recorded.
Atiku called on INEC to explain the conflicting dates, publish the register and give voters the opportunity provided by law to challenge questionable entries and correct omissions.
He also urged international partners, election observers and democratic institutions to press the commission to ensure transparency before election day.
“Do not wait until election day to ask whether this contest is credible. Demand access to the voters’ register now. Ask how every ballot paper will be authenticated. Transparency before the vote is as essential as scrutiny of the results afterwards,” he said.
Meanwhile, INEC has maintained that it displayed the preliminary register at registration areas nationwide between 9 and 15 October, allowing voters to submit claims and objections. The commission’s spokesperson, Mohammed Haruna, also told Premium Times that it was compiling the submissions ahead of publication of a clean register by 15 December 2026. The dispute centres on the alleged absence of the register from the commission’s online portal during the scrutiny period.
“The right to vote begins with the right to know that your name is on the list. INEC must stop hiding behind a blank screen. Publish the register. Open it to scrutiny. Answer the country,” Atiku added.
