ABUJA — Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has struck more than 1.6 million invalid records and deceased entries from its preliminary voter list following an extensive cleanup exercise ahead of the January 2027 general elections.
Announcing the findings at a press briefing in Abuja, INEC Chairman Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, confirmed that a total of 1,609,553 entries had been removed from the rolls. The total comprises 1,608,660 confirmed invalid registrations—flagged for duplicates, unusual patterns, and manipulated photos—alongside 873 verified records of deceased voters.
“The display and online publication of the 2026 Preliminary Register brought additional public attention, comments and criticisms,” Prof. Amupitan stated, noting that the commission used the statutory 14-day claims and objections window under the Electoral Act 2026 to verify public complaints and complete automated biometric screening.
Staff complicity and administrative sanctions
The audit of the 2025/2026 Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise revealed that certain registration personnel deliberately bypassed established controls, including misusing provisions intended for voters with disabilities.
INEC has identified 54 personnel across 10 states as complicit in the infractions. Prof. Amupitan assured that administrative disciplinary actions and potential criminal prosecutions are underway to address the breaches.
“The Commission considers the 1,609,553 as significant enough to warrant an examination of how it occurred and those responsible,” the INEC Chairman said, adding that enhanced biometric capture safeguards are being deployed to prevent future manipulations.
Historical data and election day safeguards
Addressing public concerns over duplicate records dating back to earlier registration cycles between 2011 and 2023, Prof. Amupitan explained that a proposed nationwide revalidation exercise was postponed until after the 2027 polls following stakeholder feedback regarding potential voter disruption.
However, the commission resolved during its meeting on November 9, 2026, to scrub verified historical duplications from earlier datasets prior to the release of the Final Register of Voters on December 15, 2026.
INEC reassured the public that multi-layered security measures—including mandatory physical presence, facial and fingerprint verification via the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS)—will prevent multiple voting on election day.
Meanwhile, the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for Phases 1 and 2 remains ongoing at local government offices nationwide, with Phase 3 cards scheduled for deployment to registration areas starting December 1, 2026.
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