News

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

Published

1 month ago

July 19, 2026

Preport

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.”

Events

Nigeria’s Christian Leaders to Unite in Abuja for First Lausanne Congress in Over 10 Years (Register Now)

Published

2 hours ago

August 31, 2026

Preport

The Lausanne Nigeria Christian Missions has announced plans to convene about 5,000 church leaders, missionaries, theological educators, young Christian leaders and marketplace professionals at the first national Lausanne gathering in Nigeria in more than a decade.

The Lausanne Nigeria Congress 2026 is scheduled to hold from October 27 to 30 at the National Ecumenical Centre, Abuja, under the theme, “Let the Church Declare and Display Christ Together.”

According to the organisers, registration for the four-day congress is now open, with delegates expected from major Christian denominations and all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

The congress represents Nigeria’s national expression of the Fourth Lausanne Congress on World Evangelisation, which brought together more than 5,000 Christian leaders from over 200 countries in Incheon, South Korea, in September 2024.

The organisers said the Abuja gathering would provide a platform for church leaders and mission practitioners to strengthen collaboration and develop strategies for advancing Christian mission in Nigeria and beyond.

The four-day programme will feature plenary teaching, issue network deliberations, intercessory prayer, intergenerational dialogue and a public commissioning.

Discussions will focus on a range of issues, including frontier missions and unreached peoples, theological education, faith in the public square, business as mission, media and digital innovation, diaspora and migration, as well as student and youth ministry.

Speaking on the significance of the congress, National Chairman of Lausanne Nigeria and General Secretary of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Rev. Dr. Yunusa Sabo Nmadu Jnr, described Nigeria as both a mission field and an emerging mission force.

“Nigeria is no longer merely a mission field. She is a mission force. More than fifteen thousand Nigerian missionaries are already serving in over fifty countries, while within our own borders more than forty peoples still wait for the gospel,” he said.

Nmadu stressed that the congress was designed to bring together the wider Nigerian Church rather than a select group of Christian leaders.

“This Congress is not for a select few. It is for the whole Church, the whole gospel, the whole world,” he added.

Also speaking, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Lausanne Nigeria Christian Missions, Most Rev. Dr. Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba, called for greater unity and collaboration among Christian denominations, mission agencies and generations of leaders.

“For too long we have laboured in parallel. Denominations building alone. Agencies running alone. Generations praying alone. This is our God-given moment to come together as one body, one gospel and one mission force for the nations,” Ndukuba said.

The Lausanne Movement traces its roots to the 1974 International Congress on World Evangelization in Lausanne, Switzerland, convened by renowned evangelist Billy Graham.

The gathering brought together about 2,400 Christian leaders from 150 nations and resulted in the Lausanne Covenant, which was drafted under the chairmanship of British theologian and pastor John R. W. Stott.

The organisers said the partnership between Graham and Stott helped shape the global mission movement for decades, with subsequent milestones including the Manila Manifesto of 1989, the Cape Town Commitment of 2010 and the Seoul Statement of 2024.

The Lausanne Nigeria Congress follows a series of activities aimed at strengthening collaboration among Nigerian church, mission and marketplace leaders.

In March 2026, Lausanne Nigeria hosted the Global Executive Director of the Lausanne Movement, Dr. Michael Oh, in Abuja for a Global Mission Conversation focused on strategic collaboration for global impact.

The October congress is expected to build on that engagement by bringing the conversation to a wider national platform.

Registration Opens

Delegate registration for the congress is currently open and will close on September 30, 2026.

Nigerian delegates are required to pay ₦50,000, while international delegates will pay US$200.

The organisers said group registration is available for denominations, mission agencies, seminaries and professional fellowships sending multiple delegates.

They also announced that sponsorship opportunities are available to support participation by frontier missionaries, younger leaders and delegates from under-resourced regions.

Institutions interested in deeper involvement can also apply to serve as Hosting Organisations for the congress.

Further information and registration details are available through the Lausanne Nigeria platform.

The Lausanne Nigeria Christian Missions said it is the national expression of the global Lausanne Movement in Nigeria and operates as a registered Incorporated Trustee based in Abuja.

Its Board of Trustees is chaired by Most Rev. Dr. Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba, while Rev. Dr. Yunusa Sabo Nmadu Jnr chairs the National Leadership. Dr. Joshua Utele chairs the Central Planning Committee for the 2026 congress.

The global Lausanne Movement is a fellowship of Christian leaders committed to advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ in every nation and sphere of society. It is led by Global Executive Director, Dr. Michael Oh.

For Enquiry call: +234 803 960 8804 or +234 803 973 2643.

News

Governor Mutfwang Bans Hisbah Activities in Plateau, Orders Arrests

Published

2 hours ago

August 31, 2026

Preport

Governor Caleb Mutfwang has declared the activities of any group operating under the name or guise of Hisbah illegal in Plateau State and ordered security agencies to move against those involved.

The governor’s directive followed reports of the emergence of a group in parts of Jos North Local Government Area, where members were allegedly carrying out activities in the name of Hisbah.

Mutfwang said the group had no legal authority to enforce rules or exercise powers over residents in the state.

He also directed security agencies to investigate the group, identify its members and arrest anyone found to have violated the law.

The governor’s position was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere.

According to the statement, the administration took the decision after receiving reports of alleged intimidation, harassment, extortion and the imposition of rules on residents by persons operating under the Hisbah name.

Mutfwang warned those involved to stop immediately or face prosecution under Nigerian law.

The governor made it clear that Plateau State would not allow any organisation to create a parallel authority or act as a substitute for government agencies.

“Government will not permit the emergence of any parallel authority, self-appointed enforcement body or group seeking to impose rules, restrictions or sanctions on citizens.

“No individual or group has the authority to appoint itself the government of Plateau,” he said.

He stressed that law enforcement remained the responsibility of government institutions established under the Constitution and other applicable laws.

The governor therefore instructed the security agencies to step up intelligence gathering in the affected areas.

They are expected to establish the identity of those behind the reported activities and determine the extent of their operations.

Mutfwang also ordered that anyone found to be promoting, funding, assisting or supporting the alleged unlawful activities should be investigated.

Where evidence of wrongdoing is established, such persons are to be arrested and prosecuted.

The governor’s directive comes amid concerns over the activities of informal groups seeking to enforce religious or social rules outside the recognised security and legal structures.

Hisbah organisations operate in a number of northern states, including Kano, Katsina and Sokoto, although their legal frameworks and areas of operation differ from one state to another.

Mutfwang, however, maintained that the situation in Plateau was different because the group in question had not been authorised by the state government to perform any enforcement function.

He said no organisation could simply assume powers that had not been granted to it by law.

The governor further directed security agencies to ensure that residents in Jos North and other affected areas were protected from threats, harassment and unlawful demands.

He said residents must be allowed to go about their normal activities without interference from individuals claiming authority they do not possess.

Mutfwang also moved to prevent the issue from being interpreted as a religious confrontation.

He said the decision was based on the need to maintain law and order and was not aimed at any particular religion, ethnic group or community.

“Plateau remains home to people of diverse faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds. Every Plateau resident is entitled to equal protection under the law,” he said.

The governor said the government was concerned about conduct and lawful authority rather than the religious identity of the people involved.

He maintained that every resident had the right to worship freely, work, operate a legitimate business and live without intimidation.

“The issue before the Government is solely one of lawful conduct and legitimate authority. Every resident of Plateau State has the right to live, worship, work, conduct lawful business and go about their daily activities without intimidation or interference from any self-appointed authority,” he said.

Mutfwang also thanked residents who alerted government authorities to the reported activities.

He said the government would continue to treat credible security reports seriously and respond where necessary to protect residents.

The governor reiterated that the protection of lives, rights and lawful freedoms remained one of the primary responsibilities of his administration.

He also linked the latest directive to the need to preserve peaceful coexistence in Plateau, a state with a population made up of people from different religious and ethnic backgrounds.

The governor said the government would continue to uphold the rule of law and ensure that residents were treated equally.

In another development, the Plateau State Government had in May declared that the state was “at war with terrorists and enemies of the state” following a series of deadly attacks and announced tougher security measures across the state.