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2027: INEC faces credible question as Amupitan confirms dead persons’ names on register 

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Ahead of the 2027 general election, the credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, voters’ register has come under scrutiny.

DAILY POST reports that this is following the recent revelation by the INEC chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan that names of the many dead persons were still in the register. 

Amupitan had revealed that names of voters who had died as far back as 15 years ago were still in the country’s voter register, a development many argue would not only question the credibility of the 2027 election outcomes but also cause unnecessary financial waste in terms of printing ballot papers and providing other logistics for the exercise.

This was revealed when the INEC boss received Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Abisoye Coker-Odusote and her management team who visited him in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to Amupitan, INEC has already entered into partnership with NIMC to ensure a credible voters register and transparent elections in next year’s polls. 

He noted that INEC would leverage NIMC’s data architecture to progressively clean up the register.

He explained that a credible, well-quantified voter register would significantly reduce the overall cost of conducting elections, noting that INEC currently has to print materials in excess of the over 100 million entries on its register to accommodate discrepancies.

He stressed that the newly signed NIMC Act 2026 lays the foundation for a new electoral system in Nigeria built on verified identity and stronger data integrity, expressing confidence that with NIMC’s database now covering more than 136 million enrolled Nigerians, deeper cross-platform integration between the two commissions would allow for continuous auditing, verification and elimination of duplicate or underage entries on the voter register.

“Also, the INEC’s newly introduced online voter registration platform is deliberately anchored on the National Identification Number (NIN) as a verification protocol, a critical step toward a more seamless Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) process,” he said.

Apart from the financial implications of such a questionable register, the INEC chairman was candid about the identity-related challenges, saying that voter identity could easily be stolen, easily impersonated and easily duplicated.

The NIMC boss, Coker-Odusote also assured that identity remains the foundation of effective governance and credible election planning, pledging NIMC’s full support to INEC in delivering a fair and transparent 2027 general elections.

The INEC chairman’s revelation was just a confirmation of the fear being expressed by many Nigerians.

A university lecturer, Dr Samuel Adegboye believes that having dead persons’ names on the voter register aids election manipulations. 

He also believes that sometimes, it is deliberate, noting that, “some corrupt INEC officials are working in cahoots with some dubious politicians to ensure that election manipulation is made possible.

“With the names of dead persons in the voter register, it becomes very easy for politicians to inflate figures at the end of the day. And as I said, such politicians work in cahoots with some INEC officials.

“However, the INEC chairman did not tell us the number of dead persons in the register. The numbers could be in the hundreds of thousands considering the number of unnatural deaths that had occurred in Nigeria over the past 10 years as a result of insecurity across the country.”

“So, I commend him for being honest to accept that there are dead persons whose names are still in the voter register. Let it not just end in rhetoric, let him back it up with action as he has promised. Such dead persons’ names should be weeded out of the register. 

“That way, rigging will be maximally reduced and we can expect an improved election outcome,” he told DAILY POST.

He advocated that apart from dead names, the issue of ghost voters must also be tackled. 

He noted that there are hundreds of thousands of non-existent names in the voter register, stressing that since the INEC chairman has started with the dead voters, he should also go a step further to tackle the issue of ghost voters.

“You know, it has become a popular cliche that anything is possible in Nigeria. This is a country where the absurd has become the norm. It started with ghost workers in the civil service where some dubious officials collect salaries for non-existent personnel. 

“And this went on for so many years before it was discovered and since its discovery, that problem has kept recurring in the civil service.

“Recently, we are talking about a ghost agency that has existed for over three years. Can you imagine that? An agency that has been submitting budgets and getting approval for three is what they are telling us doesn’t exist? 

“If that can happen, what makes you think that we can’t have ghost voters? So, since the INEC chairman has decided to be honest enough to admit that there are dead persons’ names in the voter register, I want him to also know that there are ghost voter names in that register. 

“Let him address both issues at the same time so that we can have fair and credible election results in 2027,” he added.

Also, speaking on the matter, a retired civil servant, Johnson Adewale stressed that apart from curtailing rigging and restoring credibility to the electoral process, such a clean-up will save enough funds.

“As the INEC chairman has pointed out, removing dead names from the voter register will help prevent printing ballot papers that will end up in waste-bins. For instance, what use will it be to print 10 million voter’s cards when the actual number of voters is five million? It doesn’t make sense. It amounts to a waste of materials and

money.

“Secondly, when the INEC is working with wrong data, it is bound to make avoidable mistakes. 

“Politicians can easily inflate figures once they have INEC officials that can play balls and it will be difficult to detect because the number in the voter register will seem to align even when most names in the register belong to dead persons. 

“So, it is good news to hear that INEC will collaborate with NIMC to clean up the voter register and ensure that dead persons’ names are removed. It will go a long way to ensuring credibility of the electoral outcome. 

“I am not saying it will automatically prevent rigging but it will reduce election malfeasance and improve fairness in the process. 

“It will also save funds and reduce stress on the part of INEC officials,” he said.

For a former local government counsellor in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Kolade Adegboyega, “Nigerians are tired of rhetoric; they want action.” 

He agrees with the INEC chairman that such a move would reduce the overall cost of election in Nigeria. 

He commended the INEC chairman’s openness and resolve to tackle the menace once and for all by seeking collaboration with NIMC.

He, however, advised the INEC boss to do everything within his power to ensure that Nigerians have credible elections in 2027. 

“The INEC chairman should do everything possible to remove all bottlenecks that could taint the outcome of the 2027 elections.

“His move to collaborate with NIMC to clean up the voter register is a welcome development because once you don’t have a credible register, the credibility of the entire process becomes questionable. 

“So, he should be encouraged as he embarks on such a clean-up exercise,” he submitted.

Also, speaking, a lawyer and public affairs commentator, Jason Osazuwa decried the development, saying, “if not that the entire system is already corrupt, how can such a thing happen? 

“We all know that Nigeria has a big problem with keeping data and that’s why we have ghost workers in the civil service everywhere.

“It is shameful that at this age and time, we are talking about having names of dead persons in our voter register.

“I only want the INEC boss to live up to his words. Let him partner with NIMC to clean the register. We want to have fair, credible elections in 2027 and beyond.”

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Crypto News: Bitcoin Price Faces Renewed Pressure While Binance Resumes Crypto Withdrawals After $6.3 Billion Hack

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Bitcoin’s renewed pressure and Binance’s gradual reopening have left the crypto market weighing two signs of recovery: whether prices can stabilise and whether customers can move their assets normally again. BTC slipped below $77,000 on 3 November, while Binance expanded its withdrawal rollout following the $6.3 billion security incident.

The latest crypto news therefore extends beyond the price chart. Restoring access to funds addresses an immediate operational problem, but the market still has to assess the remaining asset replacement, the scope of reopened networks and the evidence behind reserve claims. Those developments can influence confidence without producing an immediate Bitcoin rebound.

Bitcoin news tracks BTC price below $77,000 after brief recovery above $78,000

Bitcoin fell to about $76,566 in an early market report on Tuesday, 3 November, renewing pressure after a brief recovery above $78,000 the day before. The movement remains a recent reference point for Wednesday’s market and shows how quickly the attempted rebound lost ground.

The BTC price movement also explains why operational progress at Binance and market weakness can coexist. Reopened withdrawals let customers move assets, yet their next move could be to hold those coins elsewhere, convert them or leave them untouched. A withdrawal is not, by itself, evidence of a sale.

For Bitcoin news, the immediate question is whether renewed access is followed by steadier market conditions. A short move back above $77,000 would recover one reference point. Sustaining it would provide stronger evidence of stabilisation than a brief price spike, particularly after the failed move above $78,000.

Binance resumes crypto withdrawals for Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and Solana

Binance began another phase of crypto withdrawals at 04:00 UTC on 3 November. It followed the initial reopening on 1 November, which began with Bitcoin. The additional rollout covered selected assets on several networks, including Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain and Solana.

The distinction between an asset and its network matters. Access to a token through one network does not establish availability through every supported route. Binance said it would reopen each network-and-asset combination progressively after checks, with deposits remaining available. Its notice also warned of possible delays during the rollout.

That makes Binance recovery a sequence of operational milestones. Key measures include which routes have reopened, whether withdrawals are complete and how much of the affected asset pool has been restored. Read a broad reopening announcement alongside its detailed coverage, rather than treating it as confirmation that every service has returned simultaneously.

Binance recovery reaches 95% as proof of reserves verifies 10 crypto assets

In its 2 November update, Binance said it had covered approximately 95% of the impacted amount using its own resources. It attributed the remaining portion to less liquid tokens that took longer to source. These remain statements from the company about its recovery programme.

The platform also said its 31 October snapshot was verifiable for ten assets, including BTC, ETH, USDT, BNB and XRP. Binance said it would take a further proof of reserves snapshot covering more tokens today, 4 November. The company estimated that producing the resulting cryptographic proof would take another 40 to 50 hours, so the expanded verification is not expected to be available at the time of publication.

Reserve evidence and withdrawal access answer related questions. One concerns the assets represented in a particular snapshot; the other concerns customers’ ability to retrieve balances. Assessing both provides a fuller view of crypto market confidence than relying on either a reserve percentage or a reopening headline alone.

Bitcoin market activity brings crypto betting and BTC wagers into focus

Bitcoin’s latest price movements have created new reference points for readers following the market. Binance’s phased reopening of withdrawals adds another timely development, connecting exchange activity, asset flows and BTC price action within the same news cycle.

This combination also matters for crypto betting on moon.com, where users can wager on cryptocurrency price direction. Shifts in Bitcoin momentum and major Binance updates provide fresh market context for evaluating potential BTC moves across time frames.

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For Bitcoin wagers, short-term volatility, resistance levels and recovery attempts can all shape the available market outlook. The return of more withdrawal routes gives crypto audiences an additional indicator to follow as Bitcoin searches for its next sustained direction.

Crypto asset custody gives Nigerian readers a separate reference point

The focus on access and reserves connects directly to digital asset custody. Nigeria’s SEC rules on digital assets include provisions covering custodians, operational controls and responses to system failures. That framework explains why safeguarding assets and maintaining reliable systems are separate responsibilities.

Banking access is another layer. The CBN guidelines for VASP bank accounts, issued in December 2023, address relationships between supervised financial institutions and eligible virtual asset service providers. They concern banking arrangements rather than the status of an individual blockchain withdrawal.

Neither document verifies Binance’s latest recovery claims. They provide Nigerian context for assessing service access, custody and settlement without confusing a global platform update with a local regulatory decision.

Bitcoin and Binance withdrawals face different recovery milestones

The next useful developments are specific: wider withdrawal coverage, evidence about the remaining affected assets and publication of the cryptographic verification generated from the 4 November snapshot. Each would add information about the operational recovery, although none alone establishes where Bitcoin should move next.

Another consideration is where withdrawn Bitcoin goes. Transfers into personal wallets can reflect a change in custody preferences rather than an intention to dispose of the asset. Conversely, moving coins to another platform may increase their availability for conversion without proving that a transaction has occurred. Public wallet movements therefore need context before they can support claims about selling pressure.

The recovery timetable also deserves scrutiny. Replacing the most liquid assets first can restore access for many customers while leaving smaller balances or less common routes unavailable. Progress should consequently be assessed against the remaining obligations, alongside the proportion already covered. This keeps the focus on completed service restoration rather than reassuring percentages alone. Both access and evidence will shape the next assessment.

For the Bitcoin market, the price response remains a separate measure. The reopening process can remove one source of uncertainty while broader demand stays weak. A more convincing improvement would combine dependable access to funds with sustained price stability, rather than a single reassuring announcement followed by another short-lived bounce.

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Bandits kill 18-year-old vigilante in Plateau

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Bandits have killed an 18-year-old vigilante, Divine Davou, in Rachas village, Heipang District, Barkin Ladi council area of Plateau, on Tuesday.

In a statement on Tuesday, Rwang Tengwong, the spokesman for the Berom Youth Moulders Association, condemned the attack, which occurred at about 12:23 a.m. during a midnight attack by gunmen.

“According to information available to the association, Divine, who is a vigilante member of the community, was killed at about 12:23 a.m. during a midnight attack by Armed Fulani Terrorists,” he said.

Mr Tengwong stated that his death had plunged his family and community into mourning and heightened concerns over the safety of rural residents.

“We also urge the Plateau state and federal governments to move beyond routine assurances and implement concrete, sustained measures to protect lives and property, particularly in communities repeatedly exposed to attacks,” he said.

Mr Tengwong extended condolences to the bereaved family and the people of Rachas, while appealing for urgent action to prevent further loss of life.

The police spokesperson, Alfred Alabo, has been contacted.

Bandits killed two vigilantes and injured other residents in Tudun-Mazat village, Barkin Ladi area.

On July 9, armed bandits killed eight vigilantes in Kiara community of Kanam council area of the state, with others missing after the attack.

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