The chairman of the Independent National Election Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, expressed deep concern about what he described as a corrupt national voter registry, noting that it has not undergone a thorough purge since 2011.
He spoke at a national stakeholder forum on the elections in Abuja, where he reported on the progress of the Continuous Voter Registration process. According to Amupitan, 2,685,725 voters completed registration during the first phase, which ended on December 10, 2025. Of these, 1,576,137 registered online, while 1,109,588 opted for in-person registration at INEC centers.
Voter turnout was highest in Osun, Kaduna, Plateau, Imo, Borno, and Lagos. The next stage of the process, the complaints and objections period, begins on December 15. Amupitan urged citizens and civil society organizations to actively participate, emphasizing that this phase is essential for improving the accuracy of the voter registration lists.
Despite regular updates, he warned that the register still contains outdated information. He noted that some well-known individuals who passed away long ago remain registered as active voters, raising concerns about their credibility. He added that low participation in the review process could further undermine efforts to clean up the register.
The second phase of the voter registration process is scheduled to begin on January 5, 2026. Registration centers will be relocated closer to districts and communities to facilitate participation, especially for those who had difficulty accessing them during the first phase.
Regarding vote buying, Amupitan revealed that the INEC has contacted security agencies to obtain updated information on arrests made during the recent elections. He clarified that while the commission can prosecute violators, it does not have the power to directly arrest suspects.
He also noted that while technologies such as the INEC’s Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and Results Visualization Portal have improved transparency, their effectiveness is often hampered by poor network coverage. The INEC is currently in discussions with telecom operators to improve reliability and explore backup options. With the 2027 general elections approaching, Amupitan emphasized that the integrity of the voter registry remains fundamental to public trust and electoral credibility.
Source: Punch Newspaper
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