By Muhammad Mamman
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised serious concern over the integrity of the current voters’ register, warning that several irregularities must be addressed to safeguard future elections.
Speaking during a stakeholder meeting in Abuja, the INEC Chairman said preliminary audits and technical reviews had revealed a range of issues within the register, including duplicated entries, incomplete biometric data, and suspected underage registrations.
He noted that while the commission has made substantial progress in cleaning up the database over the years, “persistent gaps” still threaten the credibility of the electoral process if not urgently resolved.
According to him, INEC is already deploying enhanced data-verification tools and cross-matching systems to identify and remove invalid entries ahead of forthcoming elections. He reiterated that the commission remains committed to delivering a transparent and trustworthy voter register, describing it as the foundation of credible elections.
The Chairman called on political parties, civil society organisations, and citizens to support ongoing reforms by reporting suspicious entries and participating actively in verification exercises.
He also reassured Nigerians that INEC would continue to work with relevant security and technology agencies to strengthen the system, prevent manipulation, and ensure that only eligible voters are reflected in the final register.
The commission is expected to release a comprehensive update after the completion of the verification process.
