RismadarVoice Reporters
October 30, 2026
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove deceased Nigerians from the national voters’ register ahead of the 2027 general elections, expressing concerns over the accuracy and credibility of the electoral database.
The party’s National Presidential Campaign Council (NPCC) made the demand in a statement issued on Friday by its spokesperson, Dr Chiogo Constance Ikokwu.
The council cited reports that several deceased prominent Nigerians, including former President Muhammadu Buhari, former Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, former Senator Ifeanyi Ubah and media entrepreneur Raymond Dokpesi, still appeared in the preliminary register.
It questioned how many other deceased persons might remain listed across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas and demanded clarification on the commission’s register-cleaning procedures.
According to the NDC, maintaining accurate voter records is essential to electoral transparency, public confidence and the credibility of the forthcoming elections.
The party urged Nigerians and political organisations to exercise their legal rights by submitting objections against questionable entries, particularly records belonging to deceased persons.
It also proposed establishing an online platform where disputed names could be published, allowing affected individuals to respond and providing greater transparency in the verification process.
The council further demanded an independent professional audit of INEC’s procedures, citing concerns surrounding previous elections and the integrity of electoral records.
Meanwhile, INEC has acknowledged irregularities in its preliminary register, including disputed photographs and duplicate entries, but explained that the version published online on October 26 did not reflect all ongoing corrections.
The commission said records flagged during the earlier physical display were being reviewed before the publication of the final register.
INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Lawrence Bayode, also disclosed that preliminary investigations linked some questionable registrations to the activities of registration officers.
Under Section 19 of the Electoral Act 2026, citizens may formally challenge the inclusion of deceased or otherwise ineligible persons in the register.
However, the presence of deceased persons’ records does not, by itself, establish that fraudulent votes have been cast in their names.
The NDC maintained that the electoral commission must demonstrate accountability and ensure that the final voters’ register is accurate, transparent and capable of supporting credible elections in 2027.
