The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and several opposition political parties have disagreed sharply over alleged irregularities in the ongoing voters’ pre-registration exercise, particularly the unusually high figures emerging from Osun State and the South-West zone.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar expressed concerns that the registration statistics released by INEC could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections if not properly addressed. They argued that the sudden surge in voter pre-registration in Osun State is inconsistent with historical patterns and demographic realities.
However, INEC dismissed the claims, insisting that the figures align with past records and that there is nothing extraordinary about the data.
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INEC Defends Osun Figures
In a statement, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, explained that the current Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, launched on August 18, 2025, began with online pre-registration, followed by in-person registration on August 25.
According to him, data from the first week showed a total of 1,379,342 online pre-registrants nationwide, with Osun State leading at 393,269, followed by Lagos State with 222,205 and the Federal Capital Territory with 107,682.
Oyekanmi noted that Osun had also led registration figures in the past. During the 2021 CVR, for instance, the state recorded 154,893 pre-registrations by the second week and eventually concluded with 708,782 registrations by April 2022—more than any other state.
He emphasized that INEC’s role is not to speculate on why one state records higher figures than others but to ensure that only eligible voters who meet constitutional requirements are added to the register.
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ADC Raises Alarm
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) described the new figures as “statistically implausible” and warned that the 2027 elections could be compromised if the matter is ignored.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, pointed out that Osun State’s one-week figure of 393,269 exceeds the 275,815 new voters recorded between 2019 and 2023 combined.
The ADC also highlighted that the South-West alone accounted for 848,359 pre-registrations, or 67% of the national total, while the South-East recorded fewer than 2,000 registrations.
The party demanded an urgent forensic audit of the data, including server logs, bandwidth records, and access reports, warning that unresolved anomalies could undermine public trust in the electoral process.
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Labour Party Expresses Distrust
The Labour Party (LP) cautioned that INEC’s body language suggested bias toward the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Interim National Publicity Secretary, Tony Akeni, alleged that the registration exercise may be skewed in favor of APC strongholds, warning that this could amount to pre-election rigging.
He also raised concerns about the possibility of ineligible names appearing on the register, citing past instances where fictitious entries such as “Michael Jackson” and “Mike Tyson” were discovered.
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PDP Flags Institutional Weakness
The PDP also questioned the credibility of the figures, describing them as a reflection of Nigeria’s weak institutions and susceptibility to political manipulation.
Deputy National Legal Adviser of the party, Mr. Okechukwu Osuoha, argued that nearly 400,000 new registrations in a single state within one week, compared to less than 5,000 across several states, is illogical and suspicious.
He stressed that unless Nigeria strengthens its electoral institutions, ruling parties could continue to influence INEC officials to manipulate the system.
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Atiku Calls for Urgent Probe and Reforms
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar demanded an immediate investigation into what he described as “contrived” voter registration figures from Osun State.
Atiku insisted that any attempt to inflate figures must be probed to preserve confidence in the electoral process ahead of 2027. He further urged amendments to the 2022 Electoral Act to mandate exclusive use of technology—such as BVAS for accreditation and compulsory electronic transmission of results—to eliminate manual collation and reduce judicial interference in elections.
He emphasized that unless these reforms are made, Nigeria risks worsening voter apathy, as seen in the 2023 elections where turnout was just 26.72%, the lowest since 1999.
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Forensic Experts Offer Support
Meanwhile, the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria pledged to support INEC in addressing the disparities.
President of the Institute, Dr. Iliyasu Gashinbaki, said the body is ready to deploy forensic and technological tools to strengthen transparency in the registration process, while steering clear of political debates.
