By Stephen Simon
The Independent National Electoral Commission is facing the threat of legal action over alleged difficulties accessing the preliminary voters’ register ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A civic group, Concerned Citizens for Nigerian Democracy, said it would approach the Federal High Court if the commission failed to publish the register online by October 30.
The group said attempts to access the register through INEC’s portal on October 21 returned a message indicating that the service was temporarily unavailable.
Separately, INEC is exploring the use of artificial intelligence to identify discrepancies in election results and improve result management.
The commission’s information and communication technology director, Lawrence Bayode, said the proposed system would compare electronically entered figures with paper result sheets and scanned copies before allowing transmission.
However, experts have warned that AI-generated videos, synthetic voices and manipulated information could undermine electoral integrity if appropriate safeguards are not introduced.
The developments have renewed attention on transparency, technology and public confidence as preparations intensify for the 2027 elections.
