Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has demanded the immediate publication of Nigeria’s preliminary voters’ register, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission of failing to make the list available online during the announced period for public scrutiny ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku, the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, said the alleged failure to provide access to the register during the October 9 to 15 inspection period raised concerns about transparency and the credibility of the forthcoming election.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 22, 2026, by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku called on INEC to publish the register and explain discrepancies in the dates announced for its public display.
“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. A press announcement cannot tell a voter whether her name has been omitted. Show Nigerians the register,” he said.
Atiku argued that the Electoral Act 2026 required the commission to display the register at registration areas and online, insisting that the statutory provision should not be treated as optional.
He also questioned what he described as conflicting statements concerning the inspection exercise, citing a reported October 5 remark by the INEC chairman that the public display had already been completed, followed by an announced inspection period from October 9 to 15.
“Which statement is true? Where was the register published? For seven full days, or for no days at all? INEC must produce the dates, the links and the records of access,” Atiku said.
He urged the electoral commission to publish the register by local government, area council and ward, while allowing eligible voters sufficient opportunity to identify and challenge false entries and correct omissions.
The former vice president also raised concerns about Section 63(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which he said permits a returning officer to count a ballot paper without INEC’s official mark if satisfied that it came from a book supplied to the polling unit.
Atiku questioned the safeguards that would be used to establish the origin of such ballot papers and prevent counterfeit materials from being accepted during the election.
“What evidence will establish that origin? Who will verify it, and how will parties challenge a false claim?” he asked.
He called on INEC to outline enforceable safeguards for authenticating ballot papers and urged the National Assembly to address any legal provisions that could leave their authenticity dependent on an officer’s unsupported assurance.
The statement further alleged that INEC had yet to respond to inquiries about the identities of companies awarded contracts to print sensitive election materials.
Atiku said political parties and candidates had a legitimate interest in understanding the procedures governing the election and demanded greater transparency from the electoral commission.
Addressing President Bola Tinubu directly, the former vice president linked the issue to economic hardship and insecurity, arguing that Nigerians should not be denied the opportunity to verify their registration details.
“You cannot hide their names from scrutiny and then ask them to trust the election conducted with that list. Nigerians have the right to inspect the register, challenge false entries and correct omissions. If that right is denied, we will challenge it in the open and through every lawful means available,” he said.
Atiku also called on Nigeria’s international partners, election observers and democratic institutions to urge INEC to provide access to the register before election day.
“Transparency before the vote is as essential as scrutiny of the results afterward,” he said.
The statement did not include a response from INEC to the allegations. The commission’s position on the reported online access problems and the conflicting dates cited by Atiku was not provided in the material released by the ADC campaign council.
West Trybe reports that the dispute places the publication and verification of the voters’ register at the centre of preparations for the 2027 general elections, with access to registration records and clear procedures for authenticating ballots remaining important issues in public confidence in the electoral process.
