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The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has disclosed that the names of many deceased Nigerians remain on the national voter register, saying the situation has distorted voter turnout statistics over the years.
Speaking on Wednesday during a meeting with the leadership of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Amupitan explained that the voter register, which has been maintained since 2011, still contains names of deceased persons and fictitious entries created before the introduction of digital voter registration.
He attributed the challenge to the poor response of Nigerians to the commission's claims and objections process, through which ineligible names can be removed from the register.
According to him, many families fail to report the deaths of registered voters, while names of non-existent persons entered before biometric registration are still on the register.
The INEC chairman also raised concerns over voter apathy, misinformation and public distrust, describing them as major threats to Nigeria's electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He stressed that despite improvements in election technology through the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), civic education remains crucial to restoring public confidence in the electoral process.
Amupitan called for closer collaboration between INEC and the National Orientation Agency to intensify grassroots voter education, combat fake news, discourage vote-buying and enlighten citizens on the safeguards introduced to protect their votes.
He noted that recent elections in the Federal Capital Territory and Ekiti State demonstrated significant operational improvements but also exposed persistent voter apathy and confusion over polling unit transfers and registration procedures.
The INEC chairman added that preparations for the 2027 general elections had begun, urging both agencies to institutionalise joint voter education campaigns well ahead of the polls.
On the issue of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), Amupitan clarified that although the Electoral Act provides for downloadable PVCs, the provision is limited to voters whose cards are lost or defaced and only after they apply to the commission at least three months before an election.
Also speaking, NOA Director-General, Mallam Lanre Isa Onilu, said democracy depends on active civic participation and urged greater public engagement in the electoral process. He acknowledged improvements in recent elections but stressed the need for sustained voter education, particularly among young Nigerians, to strengthen the country's democracy.
