2027 Elections: Nigeria Must Retain Current Voters Register Before Fresh Biometric Overhaul, Says Okoye
A former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Festus Okoye, has stated that the electoral body must proceed with the existing voters register for the 2027 general elections, despite widespread concerns regarding its credibility.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television's Politics Today, Okoye explained that the nation has run out of time to conduct a comprehensive overhaul before the upcoming polls. However, he strongly advocated for the complete compilation of a new biometric voter database immediately after the 2027 elections conclude.
Current Database Described as Opaque
Okoye did not mince words regarding the current condition of the national electoral roll, describing it as opaque, flawed, and lacking the full integrity expected of a credible voter list. Nevertheless, he maintained that practical realities leave the country with no viable alternative for the immediate future.
"The truth of the matter is that there is nothing we can do now. We have to go into the election with this current voters' register," Okoye remarked during the broadcast. He insisted that the fundamental solution to persistent voter data challenges lies in executing an entirely fresh nationwide biometric exercise once the next electoral cycle is behind the nation.
Irregularities and Clean-Up Efforts Ahead of 2027
The credibility of the voter roll has remained under heavy scrutiny following irregularities uncovered during the 2025/2026 Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. INEC displayed its preliminary register in October 2026 to allow citizens to scrutinize personal details and submit formal claims or objections both physically and online.
In a recent update, INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, revealed the extent of systemic abuse detected within the system:
• Over 1.6 million invalid registrations were purged from the 2025/2026 exercise.
• A total of 873 records belonging to confirmed deceased individuals were excised from the database.
• At least 54 electoral officials across 10 states were placed under administrative investigation and earmarked for prosecution.
• Widespread infractions included multiple entries, manipulated facial photographs, and procedural circumvention by field personnel.
Prof Amupitan acknowledged that ongoing scrubbing exercises cannot eliminate every historical discrepancy, as many fraudulent and duplicate records date back to prior registration cycles over the past decade.
Publication of Final Voters Register
According to the timetable outlined by the electoral umpire, INEC plans to publish the certified final voters register on December 15, 2026, ahead of the general elections.
While civil society groups and political stakeholders continue to press for deeper reforms, Okoye maintained that electoral authorities must manage the existing register pragmatically in 2027, then focus institutional energy on an uncompromised biometric rebuild thereafter.
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