INEC faces fresh questions over voters' register and candidate lists ahead of 2027
- A newspaper column has raised concerns about INEC's readiness for the 2027 general elections.
- It cites AI-generated images in the voters' register and repeated changes to candidates' lists.
- The writer asks why no officials have been visibly disciplined over the register breach.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, questions are being asked about whether the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is ready to run a credible vote.
A column in The Sun by Tochukwu Jimo Obi, published on Tuesday, listed several developments it said have weakened public confidence in the commission. These include the removal and reinstatement of party-nominated candidates, internal redeployments of electoral officials, and the discovery of AI-generated images in the voters' register.
The column said INEC's Head of Information and Communication Technology disclosed last week that some electoral officers were involved in illegally adding AI-generated images to the register. It said no disciplinary measures or prosecutions have been publicly announced against those responsible.
What the writer is asking for
Obi also raised concern about the back-and-forth over the publication of candidates' lists, saying Nigerians deserve certainty about who is contesting. He noted that court orders must be respected but called for consistency and transparency.
On ad hoc staff, the column urged INEC to run thorough background checks on presiding and returning officers. It recalled allegations from the 2023 elections that people falsely presented as university lecturers were involved in manipulating results in some states.
The writer wants the national voters' register cleaned and verified before its final display in December. He said duplicate entries, fictitious identities and questionable photographs should be removed, and that parties, civil society groups and ordinary Nigerians should be able to report suspicious entries.
Why it matters
The voters' register decides who can vote, and the candidates' list decides who Nigerians can choose from. Problems with either can cast doubt on the result and on the legitimacy of whoever wins.
Obi argued that public trust in INEC cannot be built through press statements alone. He said the commission must show transparency and accountability before Nigerians go to the polls.
What happens next
The voters' register is due for final display in December, according to the column. How INEC handles that display, and the disputes over candidates' lists, will be watched closely in the run-up to 2027.
