ABUJA, Nigeria — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and opposition political parties are currently at loggerheads over alleged irregularities in the ongoing voter pre-registration exercise, with concerns that the figures being released could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have all raised alarm over the unusually high registration figures from the South-West, particularly Osun State, compared to other regions of the country.
INEC Defends Registration Data
Reacting to the claims, INEC dismissed the allegations, stressing that there was “nothing unusual” about the pre-registration statistics. Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, explained that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise commenced on August 18, 2025, with online registration first, followed by in-person capture from August 25.
According to him, the first-week figures showed 1,379,342 online registrants nationwide, with Osun State leading at 393,269, followed by Lagos State with 222,205, and the Federal Capital Territory at 107,682.
Oyekanmi added that Osun State had historically recorded high pre-registration figures, noting similar trends during the 2021–2022 CVR exercise when the state consistently led in voter registration numbers.
“The Commission’s duty is to ensure that only eligible Nigerians who meet the constitutional requirements are allowed to register. We will continue to provide transparent and verifiable updates while urging citizens to rely on official data,” Oyekanmi said.
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ADC Raises Concerns Over ‘Statistically Improbable’ Figures
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), however, insisted that the new figures from Osun State defied demographic realities. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party warned that such anomalies could compromise the integrity of the 2027 elections.
According to the ADC, Osun reportedly registered 393,269 voters in just one week — a number far higher than the total of 275,815 new registrants recorded over the four years between 2019 and 2023.
“The South-West zone alone accounted for 67 percent of the national pre-registrations, while the entire South-East managed only 1,998. This raises serious questions about either a technical glitch in INEC’s digital system or deliberate manipulation of the process,” the statement read.
The ADC demanded a forensic audit of the registration data, including state-by-state breakdowns, server logs, and access records, warning that ignoring such red flags could destabilize Nigeria’s democracy.
Labour Party Accuses INEC of Bias
Similarly, the Labour Party expressed fears that INEC was allegedly tilting the process in favor of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Interim National Publicity Secretary, Tony Akeni, alleged that certain states considered APC strongholds were receiving preferential treatment.
“We call on Nigerians to be vigilant. Reports suggest attempts to rig the 2027 elections even before Election Day. We must not see a repeat of fraudulent names appearing on the register as witnessed in the past,” Akeni warned.
What’s at Stake Ahead of 2027
As the controversy grows, political analysts warn that the credibility of Nigeria’s voters’ register — the foundation of free and fair elections — is once again in question. Both INEC and opposition parties agree on one point: ensuring the transparency of the CVR process is critical to safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic future.
