Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has launched a fierce attack on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding the public disclosure and prosecution of officials allegedly involved in corrupting the national voter register.
In a statement issued through Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku described reports of artificial intelligence-generated images and illegal entries in the voter database as a “catastrophic failure of safeguards” that directly undermines the credibility of the upcoming 2027 general elections.
The former vice president criticized recent admissions credited to the commission, in which officials acknowledged that registration officers introduced irregularities across the country.
“The Commission charged with protecting Nigerians’ votes has acknowledged that its own system was abused by those entrusted to operate it,” Atiku said. “Professor Joash Amupitan through Boyode Lawrence says INEC knows what its officers did and how they tampered with the register, yet claims it does not know why. That is a disgraceful evasion, not an answer”.
Comparing the commission’s database security unfavorably to basic social media platforms, Atiku questioned how the database holding the votes of millions of Nigerians could be less secure than a standard personal WhatsApp or Facebook account.
Call for Independent Forensic Audit
Responding to claims that more than 20 million synthetic or manipulated images could be present on the register, Atiku warned INEC against quietly cleaning the database without establishing public accountability.
He called for an immediate, independent forensic audit of all voter records, access logs, and audit trails by accredited international observers, political parties, and civil society groups.
“Preserve every voter record, image file, access log, and audit trail,” Atiku urged. “No disputed record should be certified until the audit is complete.”
Demands Transparency on Sensitive Materials
Beyond the software and database concerns, Atiku raised alarms over the procurement process for election materials. He accused the electoral body of withholding the identities of external vendors contracted to produce sensitive voting items.
“That secrecy is incompatible with a credible election,” the statement read, demanding equal access to procurement information for all registered opposition parties. “Publish the contractors’ identities and explain the safeguards governing their work.”
Atiku warned that opposition parties are prepared to seek judicial intervention to force full disclosure, compel the prosecution of compromised electoral officers, and ensure an uncompromised voter roll ahead of 2027.
