INEC Uncovers Deceased Names on Voters’ Register, Plans Nationwide Verification

|By Chinwendu Nwani

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has flagged the inclusion of deceased individuals on Nigeria’s voters’ register, prompting plans for a comprehensive nationwide verification exercise.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, revealed the discovery on Wednesday during the Commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

The review followed a stark discrepancy observed during the Anambra State off-cycle governorship election in November. While the register listed over 2.9 million voters, only around 600 ballots were cast—a turnout of barely 20 percent.

“When we scrutinized the register, we discovered names of prominent Nigerian politicians who have died still listed as eligible voters,” Amupitan said. “This undermines the integrity of the register. We don’t expect the dead to come from the grave to vote.”

The verification exercise aims to sanitize the database, correct errors, and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system. The Commission plans to collaborate with relevant government agencies to authenticate records and remove ineligible names.

Amupitan stressed that credible elections depend on an accurate and up-to-date voters’ register, noting that inaccuracies erode trust in the democratic process. The clean-up initiative is part of INEC’s broader strategy to bolster electoral credibility and ensure that only eligible Nigerians are captured on the register.