Fresh concerns have emerged over the credibility of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, following allegations of widespread manipulation of the electoral process, including multiple voter registrations, suspicious redistribution of voters across polling units, alleged creation of fictitious voters and questionable recruitment of election officials.
The allegations, described as an ongoing pattern of systemic electoral manipulation, have raised serious questions about the preparedness, transparency and institutional independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Among the alleged irregularities are multiple duplications of voters’ personal details and the redistribution of registered voters to different polling units across states and local government areas.
There are also allegations that voters’ records are being deleted, concealed or left unpublished in locations where certain political interests are perceived to have limited electoral support.
Of particular concern is the allegation of artificial intelligence-generated photographs being used to create fictitious voters and inflate voter registration figures in selected polling units across different states and local government areas.
Other allegations include the compilation of questionable lists of unqualified election result collation officers and irregularities surrounding the recruitment of INEC ad hoc personnel, including Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs), Presiding Officers (POs), Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs I, II and III), as well as Registration Area Technical Support Officers (RATECHs).
### INEC ICT Director’s Admission Raises Further Questions
The allegations have assumed greater significance following remarks attributed to INEC Director and Head of Information and Communication Technology, Dr. Lawrence Bayode, who reportedly acknowledged that suspected AI-generated photographs and other questionable entries had appeared in the commission’s preliminary voters’ register.
According to Bayode, investigations had revealed that some registration officers across the country were responsible for introducing irregularities into the register.
He reportedly stated:
*”So, what we have found is that some of these registration officers, not all of them now, some of them across the states nationwide, they’ve done different things to bring these irregularities onto the register.”*
The acknowledgement has intensified calls for INEC to go beyond explanations and demonstrate accountability by identifying those responsible, establishing the extent of the irregularities and implementing corrective measures.
However, critics have questioned the explanation reportedly offered by the commission, suggesting that administrative pressure and the need to meet deadlines cannot justify serious breaches of electoral integrity.
They argue that the same culture of hurried recruitment, inadequate verification and institutional negligence allegedly witnessed during previous electoral exercises must not be allowed to compromise the 2027 elections.
2023 Election Controversies Resurface
The concerns have also revived memories of controversies surrounding the 2023 general elections, particularly allegations involving the recruitment and deployment of questionable election personnel.
One case cited by those raising the alarm is that of an individual identified as Dr. Dickson Ariaga, who has been accused by the complainants of playing a significant role in alleged electoral manipulation in Rivers State during the 2023 elections.
These allegations require independent investigation and verification. Nevertheless, their resurfacing underscores the importance of transparent recruitment, proper credential verification and public accountability in the deployment of election officials.
Stakeholders warn that Nigeria cannot afford another electoral process in which serious allegations of manipulation are left unresolved until after the declaration of results, leaving aggrieved political parties and candidates to pursue lengthy judicial battles.
Opposition Parties Urged to Mobilise Against Alleged Electoral Manipulation
The promoters of the warning insist that Nigeria’s opposition political parties, civil society organisations and other democratic stakeholders must not wait until election day before responding to the alleged irregularities.
They argue that allowing questionable entries, suspicious voter transfers and unverified election personnel to remain unaddressed could create an environment in which electoral manipulation becomes difficult to detect or reverse.
According to the concerns raised, the familiar response of asking aggrieved parties to “Go to Court” after elections must not become a substitute for INEC’s constitutional responsibility to guarantee credible elections.
They are therefore calling for coordinated, strategic, lawful and sustained action to compel the electoral commission to address all identified vulnerabilities before the 2027 elections.
Five-Point Recommendations to Safeguard the 2027 Elections
The stakeholders have proposed the following measures as part of an urgent intervention to protect the credibility of the electoral process:
1. Immediate Legal Action Against INEC
Political parties and concerned stakeholders should explore appropriate legal remedies to compel INEC to investigate, correct and publicly account for all identified irregularities in the preliminary voters’ register.
The objective is to ensure that the commission fulfils its statutory responsibilities before the commencement of the 2027 general elections.
2. Coordinated Nationwide Peaceful Protests**
Opposition political parties and civil society organisations should organise peaceful, coordinated demonstrations at INEC offices across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The proposed demonstrations would demand transparency, accountability and immediate corrective action on all alleged voter register irregularities.
3. Independent Forensic Audit and Disclosure of Responsible Officials**
INEC should publicly identify officials found to have manipulated or compromised the preliminary voters’ register and submit the database to an independent forensic audit.
The demand echoes the position attributed to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who called on INEC to name officials responsible for manipulating the register and subject the database to independent forensic examination.
The audit should establish the number of affected records, identify duplicated and fictitious entries, examine suspicious voter transfers and disclose the locations affected.
4. International Petition and Diplomatic Engagement**
The stakeholders have also recommended submitting formal petitions to the United States Congress, the President of the United States, the European Union and relevant international organisations and agencies concerned with democracy, electoral integrity and human rights.
The proposed engagement is intended to draw international attention to concerns surrounding Nigeria’s electoral preparations and encourage stronger transparency and accountability mechanisms.
5. Public Disclosure and Verification of Election Collation Officers**
INEC should publish the names, qualifications and institutional affiliations of all officials being considered for appointment as election result collation officers ahead of the 2027 elections.
The list should be made available to political parties and relevant stakeholders for independent verification before INEC training, after the training exercise and again on election day.
This would enable political parties to scrutinise the identities, professional backgrounds and eligibility of those entrusted with the sensitive responsibility of collating and transmitting election results.
2027 Must Not Become Another Electoral Controversy
The central message emerging from these demands is that electoral credibility cannot be guaranteed through assurances and public statements alone. It requires transparent institutions, verifiable records, accountable personnel and enforceable safeguards.
INEC must demonstrate that it is capable of identifying and eliminating irregularities within its voter registration database before the final register is published.
The commission must also establish transparent procedures for recruiting, screening, training and deploying election personnel, particularly those responsible for handling polling unit results and collation processes.
The 2027 general elections represent another critical test of Nigeria’s democratic institutions. Any unresolved weakness in the voter register, election personnel recruitment or result management system could undermine public confidence and intensify political tensions.
The opposition and civil society stakeholders are therefore being urged to move beyond expressions of concern and pursue coordinated, lawful and evidence-based action.
Ultimately, Nigerians deserve an electoral process in which every eligible voter is properly registered, every polling unit is accurately represented, every election official is qualified and every vote is transparently accounted for.
