Nigeria’s opposition alliance, now called the Coalition for Democracy (formerly G100), has issued a formal demand that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conduct an independent forensic audit of the voters’ register before 15 December 2026. The call, signed on Thursday by Salihu Moh. Lukman on behalf of the coalition’s member parties, comes as the country prepares for the 16 January 2027 presidential election, with just 72 days remaining.
The coalition accuses the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of “systematically shrinking Nigeria’s democratic space” and of creating an electoral environment that privileges the incumbent party. It cites a series of incidents over the past 90 days, including attacks on opposition supporters in Kaduna, an ambush in Ibadan, and assaults in Sokoto and Cross River. The statement also notes that hotels booked for opposition delegates have cancelled reservations, campaign offices have been sealed, and opposition billboards have been removed in Edo State while those of the ruling party remain untouched. In the Federal Capital Territory, opposition outdoor advertising is reportedly being charged as high as N750 million.
“The APC is not just trying to win the election. It is trying to decide the conditions under which everybody else must contest it. This is what happens when a ruling party begins to confuse its control of government with ownership of democracy.”
The coalition highlights serious concerns about the integrity of the voters’ register. INEC missed the statutory deadline set out in Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, and the register allegedly contains AI‑generated photographs purportedly inserted by INEC registration officers, as well as the removal of more than 1.27 million records. No officials have been publicly identified or prosecuted, and political parties have not received copies of the register for independent verification.
- Provide all registered political parties with electronic copies of the preliminary voters’ register and the certified register.
- Conduct an independent forensic audit of the register, with findings published state‑by‑state before 15 December.
- Prosecute any officials found responsible for irregularities.
- Ensure the Inspector General of Police guarantees equal protection for all lawful political activities, in line with Section 83 of the Police Act 2020, and publish the outcomes of investigations into attacks on opposition supporters.
- Require state governments to end discriminatory denial of campaign venues, political offices and advertising spaces.
The coalition stresses that its demands are rooted in constitutional rights, not special privileges. “We are not asking for privileges. We are demanding the protection of rights that already belong to us under the Constitution,” the statement reads, warning that without genuine competition the upcoming election would be “an endorsement ceremony” rather than a democratic exercise.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
