The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expunged 1,608,660 invalid entries from the preliminary voters’ register after concluding a nationwide verification of registrations recorded during the 2025/2026 Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
The commission also removed 1,749 records belonging to deceased persons, comprising 876 previously verified cases and 873 additional entries uncovered during the review.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), revealed the figures on Monday while addressing journalists on the outcome of the exercise.
He disclosed that the commission received 11,088,238 registration records across the three phases of the CVR exercise.
According to Amupitan, INEC’s Automated Biometric Identification System initially identified 1,545,052 records requiring further scrutiny.
He explained, however, that entries flagged by the system were not automatically classified as invalid, as each underwent additional verification and authorised adjudication before a final decision was reached.
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The review was initiated following complaints and objections from members of the public during the nationwide display of the preliminary voters’ register from October 9 to 15, 2026.
The register had generated widespread concerns after Nigerians and civil society organisations reportedly raised questions over several suspicious entries, including photographs suspected to have been generated using artificial intelligence, multiple registrations, unusual names and records of deceased individuals.
Some of the questionable photographs also circulated on social media, raising concerns about the credibility of the registration exercise and the effectiveness of INEC’s verification process.
Following the allegations, the commission commenced a comprehensive examination of the register to establish the authenticity of the disputed entries and eliminate those found to be invalid.
Amupitan further revealed that 54 registration officials in 10 states had been flagged for possible disciplinary measures, including prosecution, over their alleged roles in the irregularities discovered.
INEC said the finalised voters’ register would be made public on December 16, 2026, in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.