2027: ATIKU RAISES ALARM OVER MISSING VOTERS’ REGISTER, DEMANDS URGENT INEC ACTION

By NaijaParrot October 22, 2026 

 ABUJA, NIGERIA — Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently publish the preliminary voters’ register ahead of the 2027 general election, warning that its reported unavailability online could undermine public confidence in the electoral process. Atiku, a presidential hopeful under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said Nigerians must be given the opportunity to verify their voter registration details, identify missing names and challenge suspicious entries before the register is finalised. His demand follows reports that the commission announced more than 103 million registered voters but did not make the preliminary register accessible through its online portal during the October 9–15 inspection period. Punch and Vanguard reported the concerns raised by the former vice-president on Thursday.

In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku questioned why voters were reportedly unable to access the register online during the period designated for public scrutiny. He argued that announcing the total number of registered voters was not enough to enable citizens to confirm whether their individual details had been correctly captured. Atiku urged INEC to publish the register by local government area, area council and ward, while providing clear information about the dates and arrangements for the inspection exercise. He also called on the commission to explain conflicting accounts surrounding the exercise, including reports that its chairman had indicated on October 5 that the public display had already been completed, despite the subsequent announcement of an October 9–15 inspection period.

 The controversy has drawn attention to the requirements of Section 19 of the Electoral Act 2026, which provides for the preliminary voters’ register to be made available for public scrutiny, including online. A report by Premium Times published on October 21 said the preliminary register remained unavailable on INEC’s website after the inspection period, raising questions about compliance with the law’s publication requirements. (Premium Times Nigeria⁠) However, INEC’s spokesperson, Mohammed Haruna, told Premium Times that the register had been displayed at registration areas across the country between October 9 and 15. He said the commission was compiling claims and objections to produce a clean copy for publication by December 15, in line with the Electoral Act’s timeline. The distinction is important: reports of the register being unavailable online do not necessarily mean that no physical inspection took place. The outstanding concern is whether the commission has met the separate online publication requirement. 

 Atiku has also raised concerns about safeguards surrounding the handling and verification of ballot papers under Section 63(2) of the Electoral Act 2026. The provision addresses circumstances in which a returning officer may count a ballot paper without the commission’s official mark if satisfied that it came from a book supplied to the relevant polling unit. Atiku called for clear and enforceable safeguards to establish the authenticity of such ballot papers and allow political parties to challenge questionable votes. He has further urged INEC to provide greater transparency about the companies involved in printing sensitive election materials and the arrangements for protecting those materials. These demands form part of wider concerns raised by the ADC presidential campaign council about the commission’s preparations for the 2027 polls. The allegations and concerns expressed by Atiku represent his position; they do not, by themselves, establish that electoral fraud has occurred. 

 The preliminary voters’ register allows eligible citizens to check whether their names and personal details have been correctly recorded before the final register is prepared. It also provides an opportunity to raise objections over omitted names, incorrect information and the inclusion of persons who may not be qualified to vote. With the 2027 general election approaching, timely access to the register will be important for voters, political parties and election observers seeking to scrutinise the process. Atiku has urged INEC to address the concerns publicly and ensure that Nigerians can verify their registration details before election day. The commission’s next steps, including the publication of the clean register, are likely to remain under scrutiny as preparations for the elections continue. 

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