morganABLE Politics/elections
The controversy has raised questions about electoral transparency and the ability of registered voters to verify their information before the finalisation of the register for the forthcoming general elections.
KaNo —
The Independent National Electoral Commission has explained why the preliminary voters’ register is yet to be uploaded to its official website, saying the document has already been published at the ward level for public scrutiny ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commission maintained that the register had been made available physically at designated registration areas, despite growing concerns over its absence from the electoral body’s online platform.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this on Sunday while responding to questions about the commission’s compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
Haruna clarified that the commission had published the register at the wards but had not made it accessible through its official website.
“The voter register has been published, but in the wards. It just wasn’t published on our website,” he said.
His explanation followed mounting criticism from political stakeholders and members of the public over the commission’s failure to provide online access to the preliminary register during the scheduled display period.
The controversy has raised questions about electoral transparency and the ability of registered voters to verify their information before the finalisation of the register for the forthcoming general elections.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar had, on Thursday, demanded the immediate publication of the register online, warning that continued delays could weaken public confidence in the credibility of the electoral process.
Atiku criticised INEC for failing to make the detailed register accessible through its website during the October 9 to 15, 2026, display period.
He argued that publishing the number of registered voters without providing access to their details was insufficient to guarantee transparency and accountability.
According to him, Nigerians must be allowed to inspect the register, confirm their registration status, identify omissions and raise objections to questionable entries before the elections.
“While INEC 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,” Atiku said.
The former vice-president maintained that making the register publicly accessible was necessary to strengthen confidence in the electoral process and ensure that eligible voters were not excluded.
The development has also renewed attention to the statutory obligations imposed on the electoral commission regarding the publication and display of voters’ registers.
Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 requires INEC to display or publish copies of the voters’ register for public scrutiny at registration areas and on its official website.
The provision mandates the commission to designate a seven-day period, not later than 90 days before a general election, during which members of the public can examine the register.
The law states, “Subject to the provisions of section 9 (6) of this Act, the commission shall, not later than 90 days to a general election, appoint a period of seven days during which a copy of the voters’ register for each Local Government, Area Council or ward shall be displayed or published for public scrutiny at every registration area and on its official website or any website established by the commission for that purpose.”
The exercise is designed to provide registered voters with an opportunity to confirm their personal information and identify errors requiring correction.
It also enables members of the public to raise objections concerning questionable registrations before the commission produces the final register for the elections.
Although INEC has confirmed the physical publication of the register, questions remain over when the document will become available online.
Meanwhile, the commission has disclosed that it has yet to determine when it will publish the corrected list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.
The development has left several governorship candidates whose names were omitted from the final list uncertain about their participation in the forthcoming polls.
Among those affected are the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidates in Ogun and Gombe states, Oladipupo Adebutu and former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, respectively.
Also affected is Aminu Gwarzo, the Nigerian Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Kano State.
Their names were excluded following the September 24 Supreme Court judgment upholding provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
INEC subsequently directed affected political parties and candidates to submit complaints and objections before the October 24 deadline.
However, with the deadline now expired, the candidates are awaiting the commission’s decision on their submissions.
INEC Director of Information and Voter Education, Victoria Eta-Mesi, confirmed that the commission was processing corrections submitted by political parties and candidates alongside relevant court orders.
She explained that the updated list would be released after the necessary reviews and corrections had been completed.
“All corrections submitted by other parties and candidates, together with court orders, are being effected and will be published once ready.
“No date has been fixed for the publication,” Eta-Mesi said.
A senior official of the commission also disclosed that the electoral body was examining the complaints individually to determine whether the affected candidates satisfied the relevant legal requirements.
The official explained that the commission would rely on the Electoral Act and the Constitution in determining which candidates qualified for inclusion.
“The commission received complaints and will review them according to their merit and in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the Constitution.
“Those who are in accordance with the law will be included, while those who fail the legal test will not be part of the election.
“Don’t forget, some of the candidates and parties are also in court.
“When the judgments are delivered, the commission will review and comply accordingly,” the source said.
The controversy followed the exclusion of several candidates from the governorship and state Houses of Assembly lists, despite the inclusion of some candidates facing similar legal questions on the National Assembly list.
The All Progressives Congress had also written to INEC, requesting the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment concerning Section 77 of the Electoral Act.
With the commission reviewing complaints and awaiting relevant judicial decisions, affected candidates remain uncertain about their electoral prospects.
The unresolved issues surrounding the voters’ register and candidates’ lists have placed renewed attention on INEC’s preparations, particularly its responsibility to ensure transparency, legal compliance and public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
