Atiku demands publication of 103m voters’ register

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has demanded the immediate publication of the preliminary voters’ register ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He warned that the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide the comprehensive list online raises serious credibility questions.

The call came after complaints from Nigerians who attempted to verify their details during the October 9 to 15 window, only to meet an empty portal.

Despite INEC announcing a record 103 million registered voters, the portal failure denied the public the opportunity to inspect names, challenge false entries, and report omissions.

A statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, accused the electoral body of violating Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026.

The council reiterated its demand for transparency, urging INEC to publish the register across all local governments, area councils, and wards.

“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.”

The former Vice-President also queried conflicting statements from the INEC chairman regarding the exact timeline for the public display. He also flagged potential loopholes in ballot authentication, warning that Section 63(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 permits returning officers to accept unstamped ballot papers.

“INEC must set out enforceable safeguards against counterfeit ballots, and the National Assembly must close any loophole that leaves the authenticity of a vote to an officer’s unsupported assurance,” Atiku added.

The statement also called international partners, election observers, and democratic institutions to press INEC for
statutory compliance before election day to guarantee a credible contest.