Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has demanded the immediate publication of Nigeria’s preliminary voters’ register, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of undermining public confidence in the 2027 general election by allegedly failing to make the document available for inspection.
Atiku said the absence of the register from INEC’s online portal during the announced October 9 to 15 scrutiny period raised serious concerns about electoral transparency and voters’ ability to identify omissions or challenge questionable entries.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate made the demand in a statement issued on Thursday, October 22, by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, announced on October 5 that the national voters’ register had exceeded 103 million following the completion of the three-phase Continuous Voter Registration exercise and a biometric cleanup.
The commission had scheduled October 9 to 15 for displaying the preliminary register to enable voters to verify their details and submit claims or objections ahead of the 2027 general election.
Atiku, however, questioned whether the exercise took place as announced, alleging that Nigerians who visited the commission’s online portal found no register available for inspection.
“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.
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He also questioned conflicting reports about when the public inspection exercise took place, citing an alleged October 5 remark by Amupitan that the display had already been completed.
“Which statement is true? Where was the register published? For seven full days, or for no days at all? INEC must produce the dates, the links and the records of access,” Atiku said.
The former vice president also raised concerns over Section 63(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which permits a returning officer to count a ballot paper without INEC’s official mark under specified conditions.
He called for safeguards against counterfeit ballots and mechanisms allowing political parties to challenge claims about ballot paper authenticity.
Atiku further questioned INEC’s failure, according to the statement, to respond to inquiries about companies awarded contracts to print sensitive election materials.
Addressing President Bola Tinubu, he said Nigerians struggling with rising living costs and insecurity should not also be denied transparency in the electoral process.
“You cannot hide their names from scrutiny and then ask them to trust the election conducted with that list,” he said.
Atiku urged INEC to publish the register by local government, area council and ward, explain the conflicting dates and give voters the opportunity to correct omissions and challenge false entries.
He also called on international partners, election observers and democratic institutions to press the commission to ensure transparency ahead of the 2027 polls.