Opposition coalition demand voter register audit 72 days before January 16 elections

A group of six opposition parties don ask the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to open its voter register for outside scrutiny, dey warn say the credibility of the January 16 elections dey already in doubt.

The group, wey dem bin dey call G100 before, announce on Thursday say dem go now dey called Coalition for Democracy. Its member parties na the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

For one statement wey Salihu Lukman sign, the coalition talk say dem want independent forensic audit of the register wey go complete by December 15, with the results published state by state and any officials wey dem find culpable make dem prosecute.

E also ask INEC to give every registered party electronic copies of the preliminary register, and later the certified version, so parties fit check the names themselves.

Wetin the coalition dey allege

The coalition talk say e dey worried by reports of AI-generated photographs inside the register, wey dem talk say INEC's own registration officers insert, and by the removal of more than 1.27 million records. E ask why no official dem don publicly name or charge over the irregularities.

E also accuse the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) say dem dey make the contest uneven. According to the statement, dem attack opposition supporters for Kaduna, Sokoto and Cross River, and ambush dem for Ibadan, within the last 90 days. E talk say hotels wey opposition delegates book cancel reservations, campaign offices seal, and opposition billboards pull down for Edo State while the ruling party's own stay up.

For the Federal Capital Territory, the coalition talk say dem quote opposition access to outdoor advertising at up to ₦750 million. E also cite one incident wey one local government chairman reportedly tell residents say make dem vote for APC or leave their community. The APC never respond to the allegations inside the statement.

The coalition call on the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to give equal protection to all lawful political activity under Section 83 of the Police Act 2020, and to publish the results of investigations into attacks on opposition supporters for Oyo, Kaduna and Sokoto states.

You cannot be a contestant and insist on writing the rules for your opponents, the coalition talk.

E urge state governments to stop denying campaign venues, political offices and advertising space to some parties while dem dey allow others.

Wetin go happen next

The coalition's demands dey directed at INEC, the police and state governments, none of which don publicly respond. With the election now 72 days away, the register audit wey the group want go need to finish and publish within about six weeks for its December 15 deadline to meet.