Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar claims Nigerians who visited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal to inspect the voters’ register found an empty page.
Atiku, the 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), demanded on Thursday that the commission publish the preliminary register at once.
The statement was issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.
Atiku served as Vice-President from 1999 to 2007.
He warned that failure to display the list online could weaken confidence in the 2027 general election.
Nigerians are entitled to inspect the register, challenge questionable entries and correct omissions, he said.
“That is an outrage. A figure cannot answer an objection,” he said.
The electoral umpire had announced a seven-day public scrutiny exercise from October 9 to 15.
During that period, voters were expected to inspect the register and object to false entries or report omitted names.
Conflicting Dates Over The Display
Atiku said the commission’s failure to make the register available online breached the Electoral Act 2026.
It also cast doubt on the process.
He cited Section 19(1) of the Act, which requires the register to be displayed at registration areas and online.
He called on INEC to publish the list by local government, area council and ward.
“I cannot recall a more brazen invitation to distrust the voter register,” he said.
He also wants an explanation of conflicting statements attributed to the commission’s chairman.
According to Atiku, the chairman reportedly said on October 5 that the public display had already been completed.
Nigerians were later told it would run from October 9 to 15.
“Which statement is true? Where was the register published? For seven full days, or for no days at all?” he asked.
Atiku called on INEC to release the dates, links and access records on the alleged online publication.
Concerns Over Ballot Paper Authentication
He also raised concerns about how ballot papers will be verified.
He cited Section 63(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.
The section lets a returning officer count a ballot paper that lacks INEC’s official authentication, if the officer is satisfied it came from a book supplied to the polling unit.
A returning officer is the official who declares election results.
“What evidence will establish that origin? Who will verify it, and how will parties challenge a false claim?” he asked.
He said INEC must set out “enforceable safeguards against counterfeit ballots”, and that the National Assembly must close any loophole.
The statement also said INEC had yet to respond to inquiries about the companies awarded contracts to print sensitive election materials.
Atiku said the ADC and its candidate are stakeholders in the presidential election.
He said they have the right to demand information on the procedures that will decide its credibility.
Atiku Warns The Tinubu Administration
Atiku said the administration of President Bola Tinubu could not conceal the voters’ register and expect Nigerians to trust the electoral process.
“You cannot hide their names from scrutiny and then ask them to trust the election conducted with that list,” the statement read.
He accused INEC of creating room for manipulation by stopping voters from checking who had been added to or taken off the register.
“That door must be shut now. Publish the register by local government, area council and ward,” he said.
He also called on international partners, election observers and democratic institutions to press INEC to obey the law before election day.
“Do not wait until election day to ask whether this contest is credible,” he said.
“The right to vote begins with the right to know that your name is on the list. INEC must stop hiding behind a blank screen,” he added.
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