Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately publish the preliminary voters register, arguing that the reported absence of the document during the announced inspection period raises concerns about preparations for the 2027 general election.
Atiku’s position was conveyed on Thursday through Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council.
The former vice-president said Nigerians attempting to inspect their registration details through INEC’s online portal were unable to access the preliminary register, despite the commission having announced a figure of more than 103 million registered voters.
“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,” Atiku said.
The demand centres on the importance of allowing voters to verify their details and identify errors before the final register is used for an election.
The inspection of a preliminary voters register is an important part of electoral administration. It provides an opportunity for eligible voters to confirm that their names and particulars have been correctly captured, while also allowing concerns about omissions, duplication or other irregularities to be raised through the appropriate procedures.
For an election involving tens of millions of registered voters, accessible verification arrangements are essential to public confidence in the process.
Atiku’s criticism also reflects wider political scrutiny of INEC’s preparations for the 2027 polls, as political parties and prospective candidates increasingly focus on the integrity of the electoral system.
However, the claim that the portal displayed an empty page requires clarification from the commission. The information provided does not establish whether the reported problem affected all users, resulted from a technical fault or reflected the status of the inspection process at the time.
INEC’s explanation of the portal’s availability, the inspection arrangements and the timeline for resolving any technical difficulties would help establish the circumstances.
The commission also faces the broader responsibility of ensuring that its voter registration systems are transparent, accessible and capable of supporting public scrutiny ahead of the election.
With the 2027 general election approaching, the publication and verification of voter information will remain important to the credibility of the electoral process.