The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that a recent review of Nigeria’s national voters’ register uncovered the names of several deceased citizens, including notable politicians, still listed as eligible to vote.

Professor Joash Amupitan, INEC Chairman, made the disclosure during the commission’s first quarterly meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Abuja on Wednesday. He also announced plans for a nationwide verification exercise aimed at cleansing the register ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Amupitan explained the urgency of the exercise, noting that the presence of deceased individuals on the register undermines its integrity. “We discovered names of prominent Nigerian politicians who have died still on the register. That impacts the integrity of the register, and we have to do a clean-up because we don’t expect the dead to come from the grave to vote,” he said.

Referencing the recent Anambra State off-cycle governorship election, the INEC chairman highlighted discrepancies in voter turnout. Despite over 2.9 million registered voters, only about 600,000 actually cast ballots—representing roughly 20 percent participation. “So, we decided to take another look at the register,” he explained.

The upcoming verification exercise will focus on identifying and removing ineligible entries, including deceased individuals and others no longer qualified to vote, to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.

To ensure accuracy, INEC is collaborating with key stakeholders such as the National Population Commission (NPC) and other relevant agencies to develop a credible system for flagging and purging deceased voters from the register.

Additionally, Amupitan revealed that the commission has already prepared the timetable for the 2027 elections. However, its official release has been delayed pending ongoing amendments to the Electoral Act.

© 2025 Gossip News Now , a division of CHIEJOS HARBIAN DIGITAL MEDIA LTD. Contact us via admin@gossipnewsnow.online