From Adesuwa Tsan and Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and a civil society group, Concerned Citizens for Nigerian Democracy (CCND), have demanded the immediate online publication of the voters’ register, warning that failure to allow public scrutiny could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general election.
While Atiku accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of denying Nigerians the opportunity to verify entries and challenge irregularities, CCND threatened to approach the Federal High Court if the commission failed to publish the preliminary register by October 30.
The group also demanded an explanation for the reported posting of Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi, whose husband it identified as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, to head INEC’s Electoral Operations Department.
In a letter dated October 22, addressed to INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, CCND demanded publication of the register for every local government, area council and ward, citing Section 19 of the Electoral Act 2026.
Atiku, in a statement by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, said Nigerians who visited the commission’s portal during its announced October 9–15 display exercise could not access the register. “INEC has 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,” he said.
CCND similarly said the commission’s voter registration portal returned the message, “Service temporarily unavailable,” when it checked on October 21.
According to the group, Section 19(1) requires INEC to display or publish the register at registration areas and on its official website not later than 90 days before a general election. It put the deadline for the January 16, 2027 presidential election at October 18, 2026.
The group said Section 19(2) provides 14 days from the date of display or publication for claims and objections, warning that an inaccessible register could render that opportunity ineffective.
It said citizens, political parties and observers needed access to check for duplicate entries, deceased persons, unlawful transfers and omissions.
CCND said it would seek an order of mandamus compelling INEC to publish the register and extend the period for claims and objections if the commission failed to comply by Friday, October 30. It would also draw the court’s attention to the penalty prescribed under Section 19(5), the group added.
Although INEC announced a physical display from October 9 to 15, CCND said reports indicated that voters at some locations could only check their individual names on request. It contrasted this with preparations for the 2023 elections, when the register was published online for scrutiny.
Atiku also questioned the duration of the announced exercise and demanded clarification of what he described as conflicting statements about when the display took place.
“I cannot recall a more brazen invitation to distrust the voter register. INEC announced a seven-day exercise and then failed to make the register available on the portal provided for public scrutiny. Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 requires display at registration areas and online. INEC does not get to treat that requirement as optional,” he said.
“Worse still, INEC’s chairman reportedly said on October 5 that the public display had already been completed. Nigerians were subsequently told it would take place from October 9 to 15. Which statement is true? Where was the register published? For seven full days, or for no days at all? INEC must produce the dates, the links and the records of access.”
The former vice president said he and his party were entitled to demand transparency as stakeholders in the presidential election.
“Publish the register by local government, area council and ward. Explain the conflicting dates. Give voters the full opportunity the law provides to challenge false entries and restore omitted names. Anything less is an assault on the credibility of the 2027 election,” he said.
Beyond access to the register, both Atiku and CCND raised concerns about other aspects of the commission’s preparations.
CCND sought clarification of reports published on October 18 and 19 that Adeyemi-Showunmi, formerly INEC’s administrative secretary in Lagos State, had been redeployed to head the Electoral Operations Department at its headquarters in Abuja.
It said the department’s previous head, Isah Magaji Gummi, was reportedly moved to the Voter Registry Department.
The group identified Adeyemi-Showunmi’s husband, Segun Showunmi, as a member of the Media and Strategic Communications Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, adding that he had confirmed the redeployment on Channels Television.
Describing the posting as a potential conflict of interest requiring public clarification, CCND said the department’s responsibility for planning and coordinating elections made disclosure necessary, particularly with the presidential poll less than three months away.
“When the spouse of a serving member of one candidate’s campaign council heads that department, a conflict of interest arises, whatever the officer’s personal record, and it must be addressed openly if the result is to command public confidence,” the group said.
It asked INEC to confirm the appointment and its effective date, disclose the criteria and process for the posting, and explain the redeployment of her predecessor.
CCND also requested details of safeguards governing electoral officers whose spouses or close relatives hold campaign positions, including declarations of interest, recusal or reassignment, and whether such measures applied in this case.
It noted that the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria and other groups had sought an explanation, but alleged that INEC had yet to issue a public statement as of the date of its letter.
Atiku, meanwhile, demanded safeguards for authenticating ballot papers and renewed his call for disclosure of the companies awarded contracts to print sensitive election materials.
“Section 63(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 permits a returning officer to count a ballot paper without INEC’s official mark if satisfied that it came from a book supplied to the polling unit. What evidence will establish that origin? Who will verify it, and how will parties challenge a false claim?” he asked.
“Nigerians cannot be denied access to the voters’ register before election day and then be asked to accept unmarked ballot papers after voting. INEC must set out enforceable safeguards against counterfeit ballots, and the National Assembly must close any loophole that leaves the authenticity of a vote to an officer’s unsupported assurance.”
He urged international partners, election observers and democratic institutions to press the commission to provide access to the register and explain how ballot papers would be authenticated.
“Do not wait until election day to ask whether this contest is credible. Demand access to the voters’ register now. Ask how every ballot paper will be authenticated. Transparency before the vote is as essential as scrutiny of the results afterward,” he said.
CCND also sought an account of INEC’s investigation into the June 2026 disclosure of voter registration information belonging to Emeka Ike, an aspirant in the Federal Capital Territory.
The group recalled that INEC had said an authorised registration officer misused internal access credentials to obtain Ike’s registration and transfer records, which were subsequently published on social media by a media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
It said the commission later told the Federal High Court, in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1272/2026, that the information was neither classified nor confidential.
CCND said it was seeking details of administrative action and data protection measures, rather than comment on the matter before the court. It asked whether the officer had been disciplined or charged and what controls now governed staff access to voter information.
Invoking the Freedom of Information Act 2011 and Section 39 of the Constitution, the group said its letter constituted a formal request for information held by a public institution.
It cited the Act’s seven-day response requirement and said it would seek judicial review under Section 20 if INEC failed to provide the requested information.
The post Voters’ register: Atiku tackles INEC as group threatens court action appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.