The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has called for a full forensic audit of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after revelations of widespread irregularities in the 2025/2026 Continuous Voter Registration exercise. In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by Deputy National Publicity Secretary Comrade James Ezema, the coalition demanded that any electoral officials found culpable be prosecuted and that INEC undergo comprehensive reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, disclosed that the commission had removed 1,608,660 invalid voter registration records, expunged 873 verified deceased persons and identified 54 personnel across ten states who were allegedly involved in registration irregularities. The CNPP described these figures as evidence of serious weaknesses in the systems that safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s voters’ register.
“The CNPP demands independent investigations into the 54 identified personnel, insisting that suspected electoral manipulation should not be treated merely as an internal administrative matter,” the statement read. The coalition urged law‑enforcement agencies to determine whether the individuals acted independently or with political actors, and called for prosecution of any official who deliberately manipulated electoral records or abused public office.
CNPP also expressed concerns about INEC’s proposed technological reforms, including biometric authentication, application‑controlled photograph capture and an Artificial Intelligence Governance Framework. “Technological improvements would only strengthen electoral credibility if supported by independent monitoring, effective institutional controls, transparent audit trails and enforceable accountability mechanisms,” the organisation argued. It urged INEC to publish its AI governance framework, conduct independent cybersecurity assessments of its digital infrastructure and review inherited voter registration irregularities dating from 2011 to 2023.
In addition to the audit, the coalition warned that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) alone could not guarantee credible elections, as manipulation could occur at different stages of the electoral process. It urged the National Assembly to strengthen electoral crime legislation, consider severe penalties for deliberate, organised and large‑scale subversion, and establish a legally sound early‑voting framework for essential election‑duty personnel such as journalists, electoral officials and security operatives.
The CNPP also raised concerns about INEC’s handling of politically sensitive party leadership disputes, particularly the African Democratic Congress (ADC) controversy, and called for transparent, consistent and impartial implementation of court decisions. Citing Section 14(2)(a) of the 1999 Constitution, the coalition stressed that electoral fraud undermines the sovereignty of Nigerians and that any new legislation must protect fair hearing, due process and legitimate political activities.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
