Abayomi Susan
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Concerned Citizens for Nigerian Democracy (CCND) have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make the preliminary voters’ register available online for public scrutiny ahead of the 2027 general elections.
They argued that public access to the register was necessary to enable voters to verify their details, identify irregularities and challenge questionable entries before election day.
Atiku, who is associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accused INEC of failing to provide access to the register during its announced display period of October 9 to 15.
In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku said Nigerians who visited the commission’s portal during the period were unable to access the register.
He maintained that announcing the number of registered voters was not enough, insisting that citizens needed access to the actual records to identify omissions, duplicate entries and other possible irregularities.
The CCND also expressed concern over the reported inaccessibility of the online register, saying its checks on October 21 returned a message indicating that the service was temporarily unavailable.
In a letter dated October 22, 2026, and addressed to INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan, the group demanded that the commission publish the register for every local government area, area council and ward.
The organisation cited Section 19 of the Electoral Act 2026, which it said requires the register to be displayed at registration areas and published online for public scrutiny.
According to the group, the public should be given a meaningful opportunity to identify duplicate registrations, entries belonging to deceased persons, unlawful transfers and omissions.
The CCND warned that it could approach the Federal High Court if INEC failed to publish the register by October 30. It said it would seek an order compelling the commission to make the register available and extend the period for claims and objections.
Atiku also questioned the duration and timing of the announced display exercise, demanding clarification over what he described as conflicting statements concerning when the register had been made available.
He called on INEC to publish the register by local government area, area council and ward, while providing clear information about the dates and arrangements for public inspection.
The former vice president further raised concerns about the commission’s preparations for the election, including safeguards for authenticating ballot papers and the disclosure of companies awarded contracts to print sensitive election materials.
He argued that the commission should explain how the origin and authenticity of ballot papers would be established and what safeguards would be available to parties seeking to challenge questionable ballots.
The CCND also called for clarification regarding the reported redeployment of Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi, formerly INEC’s administrative secretary in Lagos State, to head the commission’s Electoral Operations Department at its headquarters in Abuja.
The group said reports indicated that her predecessor, Isah Magaji Gummi, had been moved to the Voter Registry Department.
It further raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest, identifying Adeyemi-Showunmi’s husband, Segun Showunmi, as a member of the media and strategic communications directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.
The organisation asked INEC to confirm the appointment, explain the criteria used in making the posting and disclose any safeguards governing situations in which electoral officials have spouses or close relatives involved in political campaigns.
It stressed that the questions required public clarification and did not, by themselves, establish wrongdoing by the official concerned.
The group also requested information about INEC’s investigation into the June 2026 disclosure of voter registration information belonging to Emeka Ike, an aspirant in the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the CCND, the commission had previously stated that an authorised registration officer misused internal access credentials to obtain Ike’s registration and transfer records. The group asked whether disciplinary measures had been taken and what additional controls had been introduced to protect voters’ personal information.
It said its request was made under the Freedom of Information Act 2011 and Section 39 of the Constitution, adding that it could seek judicial review if the commission failed to respond.
The demands come amid growing public attention to preparations for the 2027 general elections. The issues raised by Atiku and the CCND centre on access to electoral information, the protection of voters’ data, transparency in administrative decisions and safeguards for the integrity of the voting process.
INEC’s response to the concerns will be important in clarifying the status of the voters’ register and the measures in place to ensure that eligible voters can verify their details before the elections.
