Clement Nwankwo, director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), has called for a thorough audit of the entire voters’ register before December 15, with the findings made public, insisting that Nigerians deserve to know the true state of the register ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He insisted that the entire national voters register needs a thorough audit before the Independent National Electoral Commission certifies the final version on December 15.
Nwankwo’s demand comes amid growing concerns over the credibility of the voters’ register following the discovery of suspicious entries, including artificial intelligence generated photographs and questionable registration records.
The controversy intensified after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) admitted that some of its registration officers across the country were responsible for introducing irregularities into the voters’ database.
INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Dr Lawrence Bayode, disclosed during an interview on Arise Television that some registration officers allegedly abused their access to the commission’s registration system to introduce questionable records.
Bayode explained that the commission discovered photographs generated using artificial intelligence, while other entries contained images resulting from poor registration practices.
He said the officers used their official login details to introduce the irregularities, adding that INEC had identified how some of the questionable records entered the database through its Automated Biometric Identification System.
The disclosure has raised fresh questions about the security of INEC’s registration system, the accuracy of the national voters’ register and the safeguards in place to prevent improper entries.
Reacting to the development, Nwankwo questioned the credibility of the register and expressed concern over the commission’s handling of the electoral preparations ahead of 2027.
He also raised concerns about the increase in the number of registered voters from more than 90 million to 103 million, calling for greater transparency and communication between INEC and political parties.
The PLAC director said political parties should be properly briefed on the commission’s activities and the steps being taken to address the problems identified in the register.
He further warned that Nigerians could face greater difficulties exercising their voting rights in 2027 if INEC failed to address problems relating to the transfer of voters from one polling unit to another.
Nwankwo also questioned whether adequate information had been provided to citizens on how to challenge errors, make claims and raise objections to questionable entries in the preliminary register.
He pointed out that the Electoral Act provides for the display of the voters’ register and allows citizens to raise claims and objections before the final register is certified.
Against this background, Nwankwo insisted that the entire voters’ register must be thoroughly audited before December 15 and that the outcome must be made available to the public.
He maintained that Nigerians deserve to know the true state of the register well ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The growing controversy has placed renewed attention on INEC’s responsibility to maintain an accurate and credible voters’ register, particularly following its admission that some registration officers allegedly introduced questionable records into the system.
With the 2027 elections approaching, the demand for a full audit has brought transparency, accountability and the protection of citizens’ voting rights to the centre of the debate over Nigeria’s electoral preparations.
