INEC Deletes 1.6 Million Invalid Records From Voters’ Register, Explains Delay in PVC Production

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the removal of 1,609,553 invalid and deceased voter records from Nigeria’s national voters’ register as part of efforts to strengthen the credibility of the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The commission also explained the delay in producing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for Nigerians who participated in the third and final phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, appealing to affected registrants to exercise patience.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), disclosed this while addressing journalists at a press conference in Abuja, where he provided updates on the commission’s ongoing efforts to sanitise the voters’ register and address irregularities discovered during the registration exercise.

According to him, the commission successfully identified and removed 1,608,660 confirmed invalid registrations and 873 verified records of deceased voters, bringing the total number of deleted records to 1,609,553.

Amupitan explained that the commission was committed to addressing identified irregularities through evidence-based investigations, corrective measures and stronger preventive mechanisms.

He added that INEC would continue to provide the public with verified information on the outcome of its investigations while protecting the personal information of affected individuals and preserving the integrity of ongoing investigations.

On the distribution of PVCs, the INEC chairman said the distribution of cards produced under the first and second phases, including those arising from voter transfers, was ongoing across the country’s local government areas.

He explained that some of the PVCs registered under the third and final phase were already being delivered and would be dispatched to the various states from the following week.

The commission further announced that, beginning December 1, 2026, PVC distribution would return to Registration Areas across the country.

Amupitan appealed to those who registered during the third phase to remain patient, explaining that the production of the cards was being handled outside Nigeria.

INEC records show that a total of 2,970,257 Nigerians registered during the third phase before the commission applied its de-duplication process.

The massive clean-up exercise followed public concerns and widespread criticism over irregularities discovered in the preliminary voters’ register displayed between October 9 and 15, 2026.

The commission subsequently conducted a detailed technical audit using its Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), which reportedly uncovered several suspicious activities, including unusual registration patterns, substituted photographs and fraudulent multiple registrations.

The investigation also exposed alleged misconduct involving some INEC personnel. According to Amupitan, 54 staff members across 10 states were identified for deliberately violating established procedures and exploiting special registration provisions designed to accommodate vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities.

He said disciplinary measures had been initiated against the affected personnel, while possible criminal prosecutions were also being considered.

On the political and legal developments surrounding the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the INEC chairman maintained that the commission would only act on properly authenticated legal documents.

He stressed that INEC would not base its decisions on unverified information circulating on social media.

“On ADC/Atiku: as of today, we have not received the Certified True Copy of the court judgment, and we don’t act based on what we see on social media,” Amupitan stated.

The commission also disclosed that irregularities in the voters’ register were not limited to the recent 2025/2026 registration exercise, as historical records inherited from previous registration cycles between 2011 and 2023 still contained duplicate entries.

Consequently, INEC’s board has directed that questionable records from previous registration exercises be removed after appropriate verification.

Meanwhile, the electoral body reassured Nigerians that adequate safeguards had been put in place to protect the integrity of the 2027 general elections.

It explained that voters would be required to appear physically at polling units and undergo biometric verification through the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

The system uses fingerprint or facial recognition technology to authenticate voters and prevent multiple voting, impersonation and unauthorised accreditation.

INEC maintained that the ongoing reforms and technological measures were aimed at ensuring that only qualified voters participate in the forthcoming elections and strengthening public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.

Join us on our WhatsApp Platform @KOIKIMEDIA NEWS YOUR PAGE

Koikimedia Bringing the World 🌎 Closer to Your Doorstep