INEC Deletes 1.27 Million Invalid Voter Records Ahead of 2027 Elections as UN Raises Violence Concerns

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has removed more than 1.27 million invalid voter registration records from the National Register of Voters following a verification exercise that uncovered approximately 1.5 million questionable entries.

The commission disclosed this on Thursday during a meeting between its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, and the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simão, at INEC headquarters in Abuja.

The development comes as the United Nations cautioned Nigeria against allowing the 2027 general elections to trigger

violence and political instability, urging stakeholders to prioritise peace, national cohesion and democratic development.

Amupitan explained that the questionable voter records were identified through a technology-driven verification exercise designed to sanitise the national voters’ register and eliminate irregularities that could undermine the credibility of the forthcoming elections.

According to the INEC chairman, more than 1.27 million of the approximately 1.5 million suspicious entries were confirmed to be invalid and subsequently expunged from the commission’s database.

He said the exercise was part of efforts to strengthen the integrity of the electoral register and ensure that only legitimate voter records are retained ahead of the 2027 polls.

The INEC chairman’s disclosure highlights the commission’s efforts to address concerns surrounding the accuracy and credibility of the voters’ register, a critical component of the electoral process.

Meanwhile, the United Nations expressed concern over the possibility of election-related violence in Nigeria, stressing the importance of peaceful political participation and respect for democratic institutions.

The UN urged Nigeria to approach the 2027 elections as an opportunity to consolidate democracy, strengthen national unity and advance development rather than allow political competition to deepen divisions.

The meeting provided an opportunity for discussions on electoral preparedness, institutional cooperation and the need to safeguard the credibility and peaceful conduct of the 2027 general elections.