Voters Register Discrepancies: Credibility Of 2027 Election Is On The Line

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) admission that AI generated photographs and different irregularities entered the voter register by way of registration officers, calling it a scandal that strikes on the coronary heart of the Commission’s credibility.

In an announcement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku stated “INEC has admitted that some AI generated images are on the voter register and 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. This is a catastrophic failure of leadership and safeguards.”

“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.”

Atiku described the assertion as “a disgraceful evasion, not an answer”. He added that even atypical WhatsApp, Facebook and e-mail accounts seem to have stronger safety safeguards than these INEC’s ICT director described on nationwide tv.

“How can the database holding the votes of thousands and thousands of Nigerians be much less safe than a private social media account?

“If INEC is aware of how the register was compromised, it should disclose the proof, establish each officer concerned and clarify why they haven’t been suspended and prosecuted. Amupitan can not admit the misconduct, withhold the perpetrators’ identities and count on Nigerians to just accept ignorance as an excuse. He should account for this failure now.

“INEC should not quietly ‘clean up’ the register and bury the proof. The allegation that greater than 20 million AI generated photographs could also be concerned calls for an unbiased forensic audit. Preserve each voter report, picture file, entry log and audit path. Let accredited unbiased consultants, political events, civil society and credible worldwide observers look at the proof. No disputed report needs to be licensed till the audit is full.

“INEC has additionally ignored opposition events’ demand to reveal the businesses contracted to provide delicate election supplies. That secrecy is incompatible with a reputable election. If the APC authorities is aware of who’s dealing with these supplies and what protocols apply, opposition events should obtain the identical data. Publish the contractors’ identities and clarify the safeguards governing their work.

“If INEC refuses to disclose the truth, we will go to court and compel it. Every official found to have tampered with the register must be prosecuted.”

Atiku referred to as on opposition leaders and the worldwide neighborhood to demand an unbiased audit, full disclosure and accountability. He accused President Tinubu’s authorities of enabling the disaster by permitting INEC to evade scrutiny.

“INEC has no right to demand trust while concealing evidence and shielding those responsible. Name the culprits, expose the contractors and submit the register and election materials to independent scrutiny. Until then, its assurances are worthless. The credibility of the 2027 election is on the line,” he stated.