INEC Purges 1.6 Million Invalid Records From Voter Register

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has completed a nationwide cleansing of Nigeria's voter register to remove irregularities ahead of the 2027 general elections. Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan announced the removal of 1,608,660 invalid registrations and several hundred records of deceased persons. The commission processed over 11 million records using its Automated Biometric Identification System to identify duplicates and synthetic entries.

Director of ICT Lawrence Bayode admitted that registration officers used official login credentials to compromise the system. These irregularities included the introduction of AI-generated photographs and poor registration practices. In response, INEC identified 54 registration personnel across 10 states for possible disciplinary action and prosecution for deliberately circumventing procedures.

While the current effort focused on the 2025-2026 Continuous Voter Registration exercise, Amupitan noted that inconsistencies from historical records between 2011 and 2023 remain a concern. The commission previously considered a full revalidation of the register but abandoned the plan following public outcry, opting instead for public display and claims to identify impurities.

To restore public confidence and follow recommendations from the European Union Election Observation Mission, INEC is implementing improved biometric capture and authentication safeguards. The commission expects to publish the final certified voters' register between December 15 and 16, 2026.