Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Atiku Abubakar, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately publish the preliminary voters’ register for public inspection ahead of the January 16, 2027, presidential election.
Atiku, through his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, expressed concern in a statement on Thursday over the commission’s alleged failure to upload the register to its online portal during the scheduled inspection period of October 9 to 15.
INEC had earlier designated October 9 to 15 as the period for eligible voters to inspect the preliminary register and verify their details.
However, Atiku alleged that the commission failed to make the document accessible to the public, warning that the development could erode confidence in the electoral process.
He questioned how registered voters could confirm their information, identify missing names, or challenge questionable entries without access to the register.
The former vice president maintained that INEC’s claim that Nigeria has more than 103 million registered voters was insufficient without making the list available for public scrutiny.
“Show Nigerians the register,” Atiku demanded.
“You cannot hide their names from scrutiny and then ask them to trust the election conducted with that list,” he stated.
He further cautioned that denying voters access to the register could prevent them from discovering whether their names had been omitted, removed, or unlawfully included in the electoral list.
Atiku called on INEC to publish the register according to local government areas, area councils, and wards to enable voters to verify their details and identify irregularities.
He also asked the commission to clarify the conflicting dates surrounding the inspection exercise and provide an opportunity for eligible voters to challenge inaccurate entries and correct omissions.
Additionally, the ADC presidential candidate urged Nigeria’s international partners, election observers, and democratic institutions to pressure INEC to comply with the law before election day.
According to Atiku, openness in voter registration and ballot authentication remains critical to building public trust and ensuring the credibility of elections.
His demand comes months before Nigerians head to the polls to elect a president on January 16, 2027.
Recall that INEC listed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Atiku, and 16 other presidential candidates to contest the forthcoming election.
DAILY POST reports that opposition figures have continued to question the credibility and transparency of the electoral commission ahead of the 2027 polls.
The commission had recently denied allegations that it violated the Electoral Act 2026 over its alleged failure to publish the preliminary voters’ register.
Atiku’s renewed call for the immediate release of the register has further drawn attention to concerns about electoral transparency and INEC’s preparedness to conduct credible elections in 2027.
