INEC Voters Register Sparks Fresh Credibility Fears as Dead Voters Remain Listed

The INEC voters register has come under renewed scrutiny after the electoral commission disclosed that the names of people who died up to 15 years ago remain on the register. The revelation has raised fresh concerns about the credibility of Nigeria’s 2027 general election.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, made the disclosure in Abuja while receiving the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Abisoye Coker-Odusote, and her management team.

He said the commission has partnered with NIMC to clean up the INEC voters register and strengthen electoral transparency. According to him, the collaboration will enable INEC to verify identities, remove deceased voters, and eliminate duplicate and underage registrations.

Furthermore, Amupitan explained that an accurate register would reduce election costs. He noted that INEC currently prints ballot papers and other materials for more than 100 million registered voters because of existing discrepancies.

He also said the NIMC Act 2026 provides the legal foundation for a more reliable electoral system built on verified identity and stronger data integrity. With NIMC’s database covering more than 136 million Nigerians, he expressed confidence that both agencies could continuously audit and update the INEC voters register before the 2027 polls.

The development has intensified calls for a transparent and credible voter register to strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.