Voters’ register: INEC clarifies ward display, website delay

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan. Photo: INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission has clarified that the preliminary voters’ register has been published at the ward level, adding, however, that it is yet to be uploaded to its official website.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this in an exclusive chat with The PUNCH on Sunday.

Haruna said the commission had made the register available at the wards, although it had not uploaded it to its website.

“The voter register has been published, but in the wards. It just wasn’t published on our website,” he said.

The clarification comes amid concerns over the accessibility of the register, with Nigerians questioning the commission’s failure to make it available online for public scrutiny within the stipulated period.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, in a statement issued on Thursday, called on INEC to immediately publish the preliminary voters’ register, warning that its unavailability could undermine confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general election.

Atiku faulted the commission for failing to make the detailed register accessible online during the scheduled display period of October 9 to 15, 2026.

He said Nigerians needed access to the register to verify their details, identify omissions and challenge questionable entries.

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“While INEC 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,” Atiku said.

The controversy has brought renewed attention to the legal requirements governing the publication and display of the voters’ register before a general election.

Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 requires INEC to make copies of the register available for public scrutiny both on its official website and at every registration area for seven days, within the period stipulated by law.

The provision states: “Subject to the provisions of section 9 (6) of this Act, the commission shall, not later than 90 days to a general election, appoint a period of seven days during which a copy of the voters’ register for each Local Government, Area Council or ward shall be displayed or published for public scrutiny at every registration area and on its official website or any website established by the commission for that purpose.”

The display is intended to enable registered voters to confirm their details and allow members of the public to identify omissions or questionable entries before the finalisation of the register.

With the 2027 general election approaching, the accessibility of the register remains a key issue in discussions about electoral transparency, voter participation and public confidence in the electoral process.