The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has come under criticism for failing to publish the preliminary voters’ register on its website within the statutory deadline ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The failure has raised concerns about compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, which requires the commission to make the register available online and at designated registration areas for public scrutiny.
Section 19(1) of the Act stipulates that INEC must, not later than 90 days before a general election, designate a seven-day period for displaying or publishing copies of the voters’ register for each local government area, area council or ward.
With the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, the deadline for announcing the period for the register’s display fell on October 18, 2026.
Although INEC conducted a nationwide display of preliminary voters’ registers at registration areas between October 9 and 15, the commission had yet to upload the registers to its website as of Wednesday, October 21, according to a report by Premium Times.
The online portal for the preliminary register reportedly continued to display a notice stating that no preliminary registers were available and advising visitors to check back later.
However, INEC spokesperson Mohammed Haruna told Premium Times that the commission had published the register at registration areas for claims and objections and was compiling the submissions ahead of the publication of a clean copy.
“We published the voter register for claims and objections at our registration areas between October 9 & 15,” Haruna said.
He added that the commission was working towards publishing the finalised register by December 15, 2026, in line with the Electoral Act.
When the newspaper pointed out that the law also required online publication within the prescribed period, the spokesperson had yet to respond to a subsequent request for clarification.
A Lagos-based legal practitioner, Mujeeb Abdulwasiu, described the failure to publish the register online within the statutory period as a breach of the law.
Abdulwasiu explained that Section 19 imposed obligations on INEC to make the register available both physically and online, within the stipulated timeframe.
He stressed that the requirement was not limited to displaying the register at local government offices or registration areas, noting that the law specifically provided for online publication.
The Electoral Act also prescribes penalties for officials who fail to display or publish the register as required.
Under Section 19(5), an INEC official found guilty of the offence is liable to imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of N100,000, or both.
The preliminary voters’ register is an important component of the electoral process, allowing registered voters to verify their personal information and identify errors before the register is finalised.
Section 19 also provides for the consideration of claims and objections concerning omitted names, the inclusion of unqualified persons and other necessary corrections within 14 days following the relevant display or publication.
The process is intended to help prevent errors that could disenfranchise eligible voters or compromise the integrity of the electoral register.
Meanwhile, the commission’s failure to publish the register online by the deadline has attracted criticism from Nigerians on social media, with some calling for greater transparency and accountability ahead of the 2027 polls.
One social media user, identified as @mundus01, accused INEC of disregarding the Electoral Act by failing to make the register available online despite the expiration of the statutory deadline.
Another user, @MallamJabeer, expressed concern over the development, arguing that Nigerians deserved transparency and accountability in the management of the electoral process.
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections are slated for February 6, 2027.
