…Failure to publish preliminary register online raises Electoral Act 2026 compliance questions
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is facing mounting scrutiny over its failure to make the preliminary voters’ register available online during the statutory public display period, raising fresh concerns about electoral transparency ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
The controversy centers on INEC’s Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) portal. Despite the commission’s announcement that the display exercise would run from October 9 to 15, 2026, the portal continued to display the message: “There are currently no preliminary registers to display. Please check back later.”
On October 16, the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) first reported that the commission’s online portal for the preliminary register did not display any voters’ names. As of Sunday, October 18 — three days after the announced display period ended and 90 days to the presidential election, FIJ confirmed the register had still not been published online.
The report was corroborated by ARISE News, which said its team checked INEC’s online portal on Tuesday, October 13, and found the website displayed a message stating that there were no preliminary registers available for display.
Physical display also faced questions. ARISE reported that in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos, the register was available only on request between 9am and 3pm, with residents permitted to check only their own names.
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What the law requires
The exercise is a statutory requirement under Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which provides for a seven-day period during which voters’ registers must be made available for public scrutiny.
The law is explicit:
“19.—(1) 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.”
It also requires copies to be displayed at registration areas and published on INEC’s official website or another website established for that purpose. Section 19(5) prescribes a penalty — N100,000 fine, six months imprisonment or both — for an official who fails to display or publish the register as required.
What INEC announced
INEC had announced on October 5 that Nigeria’s national register had crossed the 103 million mark. INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan disclosed the figure in Abuja at a strategic workshop for editors.
The Commission said more than 103 million Nigerians are now on the national register of voters ahead of the 2027 elections, following a three-phase Continuous Voter Registration exercise and biometric cleanup.
While the aggregate figure provides an overview, it does not replace the detailed register. Access to the underlying register enables voters, political parties and civil society to scrutinise individual records and identify possible errors, duplication or omissions.
Why it matters
The public display is not an administrative formality. Under Section 19(2), INEC is required to accept and consider claims and objections — such as omissions or inclusion of unqualified persons — within 14 days after display. Without online access, voters who cannot readily visit their registration areas will find it difficult to verify their details.
For political parties and election-monitoring organisations, the accessibility of the voters’ register is a fundamental component of electoral accountability, with implications for voter participation, dispute resolution and credibility of the entire process.
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INEC’s response and outstanding questions
INEC’s Lagos State office disputed the ARISE report. In a statement issued on October 15, Head of Voter Education and Publicity Esther Emeh said the display had taken place across all 245 registration areas in Lagos State.
As of Tuesday afternoon, INEC had not issued a detailed public explanation for the continued absence of the preliminary register from its online portal.
Critics have described the development as a possible ploy to manipulate figures, but those claims remain allegations and have not been independently established. The immediate issue is not proof of manipulation, but compliance, openness and the practical opportunity for Nigerians to inspect and correct the roll before it is finalised.
INEC must clarify: Whether the failure resulted from a technical problem, administrative lapse or other cause; What measures will be taken to ensure full compliance with Section 19(1); How voters who were unable to inspect the register online will be given an effective opportunity to submit claims and objections.
Until these questions are resolved, concerns over transparency are likely to persist, placing renewed pressure on INEC to demonstrate that its preparations for the 2027 polls are grounded in openness, accountability and strict compliance with the law.
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