The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the removal of more than 1.6 million records from Nigeria's national voters' register following an extensive review of the 2025/2026 Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. The Commission has also identified 54 personnel across 10 states allegedly involved in registration irregularities, warning that those found culpable will face disciplinary action and possible prosecution.
The announcement, made by INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, during a press conference at the Commission's headquarters in Abuja on Monday, November 9, 2026, comes amid growing public concerns over the integrity of the voters' register ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to Amupitan, the Commission harvested 11,088,238 registration records from the three phases of the 2025/2026 CVR exercise. Its Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) initially flagged 1,545,052 records for further examination.
However, the INEC chairman clarified that being flagged by the automated system did not automatically make a registration invalid. Each questionable record had to undergo further examination and authorised adjudication before a decision could be reached.
Before the preliminary register was published, 1,277,052 registrations had already been confirmed invalid and excluded. Following the public display of the register, another 268,000 cases were subjected to adjudication after complaints, claims and objections were received.
Of these, 217,722 registrations were confirmed invalid and removed, while 50,278 were cleared and retained. An additional screening exercise identified another 113,886 invalid registrations.
Consequently, INEC reported that 1,608,660 invalid registrations had been removed, alongside 873 records belonging to verified deceased persons, bringing the Commission's announced combined figure to 1,609,553.
The Commission said the irregularities included suspected multiple registrations, unusual registration patterns, substituted photographs and questionable registration transactions.
INEC identifies 54 officials but withholds their identities
One of the most significant revelations from the briefing was the identification of 54 INEC personnel across 10 states allegedly involved in manipulating the registration process.
Amupitan disclosed that the Commission's technical assessment uncovered instances where registration personnel deliberately circumvented established procedures and misused provisions designed to accommodate exceptional registration circumstances, including provisions for persons living with disabilities.
He said the affected records had been identified, reviewed and subjected to corrective measures, while the personnel involved had been identified for further administrative investigation.
The chairman warned that the implicated personnel would face disciplinary action, including possible prosecution where criminal offences were established.
However, the Commission did not publicly disclose the names of the 10 states or the identities of the 54 personnel during the briefing. This omission has generated questions about transparency, particularly given the seriousness of the allegations and the approaching 2027 elections.
For many Nigerians, identifying the affected officials and locations would provide an additional measure of accountability and help establish the geographical extent of the irregularities.
TheCable, The Guardian and other national media outlets have reported the announcement, but the specific states and names of the implicated personnel were not disclosed in the reports reviewed.
Old register remains another major concern
Beyond the latest registration exercise, Amupitan acknowledged that the national voters' register still has historical integrity problems dating back to 2011.
He explained that the register has evolved through successive registration exercises using different technologies, operational arrangements and quality standards. Consequently, some of the suspicious names, duplicate entries and photographs circulating on social media relate to registrations conducted between 2011 and 2023 rather than the latest CVR exercise.
The Commission has therefore resolved to investigate and address outstanding duplications in the historical register, including cases already identified through public complaints.
INEC had previously announced a nationwide voter revalidation exercise but postponed it until after the 2027 general elections following concerns that conducting it close to the elections could discourage voter participation.
The chairman, however, insisted that postponing the exercise did not mean abandoning existing mechanisms for maintaining the integrity of the register. The Guardian Nigeria
INEC bans external webcams, introduces new AI safeguards
In another significant development, the Commission announced a ban on the use of external web cameras for capturing voters' photographs during registration.
Amupitan said the Director of Information and Communication Technology had been directed to introduce an application-based camera system that would capture photographs directly through INEC's approved application rather than allowing images to be imported from external sources.
The decision follows concerns over artificial intelligence-generated and manipulated photographs allegedly used to compromise parts of the registration process.
The chairman also announced the approval of a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence Governance Framework developed in collaboration with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and the UK High Commission.
He explained that the framework would establish guidelines for the responsible deployment of AI within the Commission's operations.
INEC also confirmed that security agencies were conducting independent investigations into the irregularities, while its ICT infrastructure and cybersecurity arrangements were being reviewed ahead of the 2027 elections. cnnnewsnigeria +1
INEC awaits ADC judgment, addresses PVC distribution and election safeguards
On the controversy surrounding the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Amupitan said INEC had yet to receive the relevant court judgment and would not take decisions based on documents circulating on social media.
He explained that the Commission would obtain and study the certified court documents, seek advice from relevant departments and determine its position in accordance with the law.
Regarding voters who complained that their names had disappeared from the register, he explained that some had registered again after relocating instead of transferring their existing registrations. Their second registrations were subsequently invalidated by biometric screening, while their original records remained at their former polling locations.
On Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), the chairman said distribution of the first two phases and transferred cards was ongoing nationwide. Distribution of third-phase cards was expected to progress as additional batches arrived, with distribution scheduled to return to Registration Areas from December 1, 2026.
He also maintained that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would require voters to appear physically at their designated polling units and undergo biometric authentication through fingerprint or facial recognition.
INEC further disclosed that its proposal for early voting by journalists and electoral officials had not received the necessary support during the National Assembly's consideration of amendments to the Electoral Act. cnnnewsnigeria +1
Nigerians demand answers as questions mount
The announcement has generated considerable reactions, with many Nigerians questioning why the Commission has not disclosed the identities of the 54 implicated personnel and the 10 states where the alleged misconduct occurred.
Some citizens have demanded the publication of the affected states, local government areas, polling units and details of the questionable registrations, arguing that transparency is essential to restoring public confidence.
Others have questioned whether removing 1.6 million records is sufficient when INEC itself acknowledges that historical irregularities dating back to 2011 remain unresolved.
There are also concerns about the possible consequences of these discoveries for the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
However, it is important to distinguish public suspicions and political allegations from established findings. No evidence has been presented in the Commission's announcement to substantiate claims that particular states are responsible or that the exercise is connected to a predetermined electoral outcome.
The real test is 2027
INEC's latest announcement represents an important disclosure about weaknesses within Nigeria's voter registration system. Nevertheless, identifying irregularities and announcing disciplinary measures are only parts of the responsibility expected of an electoral umpire.
The Commission must demonstrate transparency, accountability and consistency in addressing the problems it has uncovered.
Nigerians deserve to know where the irregularities occurred, what measures have been taken against those responsible and how eligible voters will be protected from wrongful exclusion.
There is also a numerical clarification worth noting: the two removal categories published by INEC, 1,608,660 invalid registrations and 873 deceased records, add up to 1,609,533, not the announced combined figure of 1,609,553. The 20-record discrepancy requires clarification.
Ultimately, the most important expectation from INEC is that it conducts free, fair, transparent and credible elections in 2027 and beyond. Nigerians should not have to approach another general election wondering whether the voters' register can be trusted.
The responsibility now rests on the Commission to prove through verifiable actions that the electoral process is protected from manipulation, internal compromise and political interference.
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