The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has removed 1,277,252 invalid records from the national voters’ register after uncovering more than 1.5 million questionable entries. The discovery followed a technology-driven screening exercise covering millions of registrations from the 2026 Continuous Voter Registration programme.
The development has renewed attention on the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral database as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum. INEC says it will continue examining suspicious records to prevent registration irregularities from affecting the credibility of future elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed the development during meetings with diplomatic representatives at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. He said the commission remained committed to improving the accuracy of the National Register of Voters through stronger verification procedures.
INEC Voter Register Screening Reveals Questionable Entries
The commission relied on its Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) to examine registration records collected during the 2026 Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
According to INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Lawrence Bayode, the exercise covered 11,088,238 registrations. However, the system identified 1,545,052 records that required further examination because of suspected irregularities.
The flagged entries included possible multiple registrations, questionable photographs and inconsistencies in biometric information. Some records also contained images suspected to be artificial intelligence-generated or photographs taken from unrelated sources.
Following additional checks, INEC confirmed 1,277,252 entries as invalid and removed them from the database. Approximately 268,000 other records remained under further review.
However, the commission stressed that a biometric alert does not automatically establish that a registration is fraudulent. Its verification process requires human examination before officials can reject a questionable record.
This distinction matters because an automated system can identify unusual information without establishing the circumstances behind it. INEC must therefore ensure that genuine voters do not lose their registration status because of errors or incorrect assumptions during the screening process.
INEC Investigates Alleged Misconduct by Registration Officials
Beyond the questionable records, the commission has raised concerns about the conduct of some officials who participated in the registration exercise.
Bayode alleged that certain registration officers abused their authorised access to INEC’s registration platform to introduce questionable profiles into the database. Some of the records reportedly contained manipulated biometric details and photographs that did not represent genuine applicants.
He also explained that some officials allegedly exploited a special registration provision designed to accommodate people with disabilities who have missing or incomplete fingers.
The provision allows eligible applicants to register through alternative procedures when they cannot provide complete fingerprints. However, officials allegedly misused the process to create questionable profiles.
INEC said it was gathering evidence against the officials involved. The commission also indicated that it could impose disciplinary measures on anyone found responsible for manipulating its registration system.
The allegations have raised concerns about internal supervision, access controls and the protection of sensitive voter information. They have also highlighted the need for stronger monitoring of officials who handle electoral data.
Preparations for 2027 Elections Continue
The voter register screening comes as INEC intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections. The commission currently has more than 103 million registered voters, according to its chairman.
Young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 34 account for nearly 29 per cent of the registered electorate. This represents a significant portion of the population expected to participate in the next general elections.
Meanwhile, INEC is using its claims and objections process to allow citizens identify errors and challenge questionable registration entries. The exercise gives eligible Nigerians an opportunity to request corrections before the commission certifies the final register.
INEC has scheduled December 15, 2026, for the publication of the final certified voters’ register. Before then, the commission must complete its outstanding verification and data-cleaning activities.
The commission is also working to strengthen other parts of the electoral process, including the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and improvements to its result management procedures.
The removal of invalid records represents one part of the wider preparations for the forthcoming elections. However, the commission must maintain transparency throughout the process and provide adequate safeguards for eligible voters.
As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 general elections, the accuracy of the INEC voter register will remain an important issue. The commission must demonstrate that it can identify irregularities, hold responsible officials accountable and protect citizens whose registration details remain valid.
The success of the exercise will depend not only on the number of questionable records removed but also on INEC’s ability to maintain a reliable database that supports the voting rights of eligible Nigerians.