The Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct an independent forensic audit of Nigeria’s voters’ register ahead of the 2027 general elections, following allegations of irregularities and possible manipulation of the electoral database.

The organisation, a human rights and public accountability watchdog, expressed concern over allegations of underage registration, multiple registrations, fictitious voter entries and the possible inclusion of ineligible persons in the register.

In a statement issued on November 1, 2026, and signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, FENRAD said the allegations reportedly followed concerns raised by Channels Television journalist, Seun Okinbaloye, during a broadcast of Politics Today.

Although the organisation acknowledged that the allegations required independent verification and should not be treated as facts without credible evidence, it said they were serious enough to warrant immediate attention from INEC, political stakeholders, civil society organisations and Nigerians.

FENRAD maintained that the credibility of elections was not determined solely by activities at polling stations on election day but also depended on the integrity of the institutions, processes and databases underpinning the electoral exercise.

It warned that a compromised voters’ register, if established, could undermine the principle of equal suffrage, distort electoral representation, weaken public confidence and expose the democratic process to manipulation.

The organisation also expressed concern that failure to address credible complaints about the register before the 2027 elections could create opportunities for electoral malpractice and further erode public trust in democratic institutions.

It identified key areas requiring attention, including the effectiveness of safeguards against underage and fictitious registrations, the capacity of INEC’s verification systems to detect duplicate registrations, institutional accountability and the transparency of the process for scrutinising the preliminary register.

On its recommendations, FENRAD urged INEC to facilitate a credible, independent and transparent forensic examination of the voters’ register, with particular attention to suspicious entries, duplicate records, underage registrations and potentially fictitious identities.

It further called on the Commission to publish comprehensive findings from its verification exercises, including the nature and scale of identified irregularities, corrective measures taken and outstanding challenges.

The organisation also urged INEC to strengthen public verification mechanisms by allowing citizens, political parties, accredited election observers and civil society organisations to participate meaningfully in the verification and objection process, subject to relevant privacy and data-protection safeguards.

FENRAD insisted that individuals found to have deliberately manipulated the register, or electoral officials and other persons implicated in such misconduct, should be investigated and sanctioned in accordance with the law.

However, it cautioned that any exercise to clean up the register must not become an avenue for disenfranchising eligible voters.

According to the organisation, every individual affected by the verification exercise must be given proper notification, fair verification opportunities and the right to challenge any erroneous exclusion.

It also advocated sustained engagement between INEC, credible civil society organisations, professional bodies, election observers and other democratic institutions to strengthen transparency and accountability.

Emphasising the need to protect democratic institutions before election day, FENRAD said credible elections were fundamental to democratic governance, institutional legitimacy, human rights and sustainable development.

It noted that environmental sustainability and democratic accountability were interconnected, arguing that communities needed legitimate, accountable and responsive institutions to protect their environmental, social and economic interests.

The organisation warned that declining public confidence in democratic institutions could have consequences beyond electoral politics, extending to governance and the protection of fundamental rights.

“Nigeria cannot afford another cycle of avoidable electoral controversies. The 2027 General Elections must be prepared through transparent processes, credible institutions and demonstrable accountability,” the statement said.

FENRAD therefore urged INEC to treat the concerns with urgency and provide Nigerians with verifiable assurances that the voters’ register was accurate, credible and protected against manipulation.

It also called on Nigerians to remain vigilant, exercise their democratic rights responsibly and report credible evidence of electoral irregularities through appropriate lawful channels.

The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to advocating transparency, institutional accountability, respect for human rights and the protection of democratic values.

It stressed that the credibility of the 2027 general elections must be demonstrated through concrete action, transparency and accountability rather than left to chance.