Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has eliminated 1,609,553 invalid registrations from the preliminary register of voters forward of the publication of the Final Register on fifteenth December, 2026.
The Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, introduced this at a press convention on Monday in Abuja.
He defined that following complaints, claims and objections raised by the general public through the show of the register at ward stage between ninth and fifteenth October, 2026 and its subsequent on-line publication, the invalid registrations have been eliminated by the fee.
He revealed that 1,608,660 confirmed invalid registrations eliminated have been from the 2025/2026 Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), whereas 873 verified deceased voters have been eliminated as a separate class.
Amupitan defined that INEC harvested 11,088,238 information from the three phases of the 2025/2026 CVR, whereas the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) initially flagged 1,545,052 for examination.
He careworn that earlier than the preliminary register was revealed, 1,277,052 had already been confirmed invalid and excluded.
Amupitan famous that after show, an extra 268,000 instances went by way of adjudication — 217,722 have been confirmed invalid and eliminated, whereas 50,278 have been cleared as legitimate and retained.
He disclosed that extra screening later recognized 113,886 extra invalid registrations, which have been additionally eliminated.
The chairman added: “The cumulative complete of confirmed invalid registrations eliminated after the objections, claims and complaints is 331,608, along with the 873 individually verified deceased voters’ information. This brings the overall clean-up to 1,608,660.
“The Commission confirms that the present register-cleaning train for the 2025/2026 Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) has been concluded.
“All 1,608,660 confirmed invalid registrations have been eliminated. In addition, 873 information belonging to verified deceased individuals have additionally been eliminated as a separate class.
“The combined total of records removed under these two categories is 1,609,553. Final reconciliation, quality assurance and publication checks remain to ensure that approved changes are accurately reflected in the final register, scheduled for publication on 15 December 2026.”
Giving an perception on how the irregularities occurred, the Commission mentioned its technical evaluation discovered situations the place some registration personnel intentionally circumvented procedures and misused provisions meant for distinctive instances, together with for individuals with disabilities.
Amupitan identified that 54 individuals throughout 10 states have been recognized as complicit through the CVR train, saying disciplinary motion could be taken towards them, together with doable prosecution.
The Chairman admitted that cleansing solely the 2025/2026 CVR wouldn’t remedy the issue, saying many of the duplications, unusual footage and strange names circulated on social media got here from the 2011-2023 historic register.
He mentioned the Commission has additionally determined to take away already flagged duplications and apparent instances within the outdated register after correct verification.
The chairman additional clarified that the majority complaints about omitted names got here from voters who registered between 2011-2023, moved to a brand new location and re-registered as a substitute of transferring.
He mentioned their second registration was voided by ABIS, however their names remained of their earlier location.
The chairman suggested people who fall into that class to test their earlier areas.
Amupitan recalled that in February 2026, INEC had introduced a nationwide voter revalidation train to replace biometrics and resolve inconsistencies.
The train, he added, was deferred until after the 2027 basic election following stakeholder considerations about its proximity to the elections.
He mentioned the deferment didn’t droop biometric screening, adjudication and different verification procedures.
The chairman revealed that distribution of Phases 1 and a pair of PVCs and transferred PVCs are ongoing at LGAs, whereas PVCs for Phase 3 are being delivered and could be dispatched to states by subsequent week.
He mentioned from 1st December, 2026, distribution would return to Registration Areas nationwide.
The fee, nonetheless, appealed for persistence from Phase 3 registrants, saying manufacturing was achieved outdoors the nation
The Chairman assured Nigerians that BVAS would stop a number of voting, including that each voter have to be bodily current at their designated Polling Unit and endure biometric authentication utilizing fingerprint or facial recognition.
He mentioned the Commission remained dedicated each to eradicating confirmed invalid entries and to defending eligible Nigerians from wrongful exclusion,” Amupitan mentioned.
