Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has demanded the immediate publication of the preliminary voters’ register, warning that the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission to display the list online could undermine confidence in the 2027 general election.
Atiku, in a statement on Thursday issued by the Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, said Nigerians were entitled to inspect the register, challenge questionable entries and correct omissions before the election.
“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.
The electoral umpire had announced a seven-day public scrutiny exercise from October 9 to 15, during which registered voters were expected to inspect the preliminary register and raise objections to false entries or report omitted names.
Atiku, however, said the commission’s failure to make the register available online violated the Electoral Act 2026 and raised questions about the credibility of the process.
“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.
He cited Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which requires the register to be displayed at registration areas and online, and urged INEC to publish the list by local government, area council and ward.
