The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that the names of deceased Nigerians are still contained in the country’s voters’ register, raising concerns about the accuracy and credibility of the database used for elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, made the disclosure on Wednesday while speaking at the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). He said an internal review of the voters’ register exposed multiple ineligible entries, including those of Nigerians who have long passed away.
According to Prof. Amupitan, the findings prompted the commission to design a comprehensive nationwide verification exercise aimed at sanitising the voters’ register and restoring public confidence in the electoral process. He explained that the exercise would focus on identifying and removing entries that do not meet the legal requirements for voter registration.
Citing the Anambra State off-cycle governorship election held in November as an example, the INEC chairman noted a wide disparity between the number of registered voters and actual voter turnout. He disclosed that although more than 2.9 million voters were listed on the register, only about 600,000 participated in the election, representing roughly 20 per cent turnout.
“This discrepancy compelled us to re-examine the register, and in the process, we discovered that the names of well-known Nigerians who are no longer alive are still included,” Amupitan said. “This clearly undermines the integrity of the voters’ register, and it is unacceptable. The dead cannot participate in elections, and the register must reflect that reality.”
He stressed that the planned verification exercise would help strengthen the credibility of elections by ensuring that only eligible, living citizens are captured in the database.
Prof. Amupitan also disclosed that preparations for the 2027 general elections are already underway, adding that INEC has completed a draft timetable for the polls. However, he explained that its release has been put on hold due to ongoing efforts to amend the Electoral Act, which could introduce changes that may affect the proposed schedule.
He assured stakeholders that once the amendments are concluded, the commission would promptly release the official timetable and continue engaging with relevant partners to ensure a transparent and credible electoral process.
