Former Vice-President calls for independent forensic audit, threatens legal action over alleged electoral irregularities

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has demanded that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) identify and prosecute officials allegedly responsible for irregularities in the national voter register and disclose the companies handling sensitive election materials ahead of the 2027 general election.

Atiku also called for an independent forensic audit of the register, following the commission’s reported admission that artificial intelligence (AI)-generated images and other irregularities were introduced by registration officers.

In a statement issued on Friday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku described the development as a scandal that undermined INEC’s credibility and raised serious questions about the security of the electoral process.

He accused the commission of failing to protect the voter register from manipulation by officials entrusted with managing it.

“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,” he said.

Atiku faulted INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, over the commission’s explanation of how the register was compromised, insisting that identifying the irregularities without naming those responsible amounted to an evasion of accountability.

He questioned the security architecture of INEC’s information technology system, arguing that the database containing millions of Nigerians’ voting records should have stronger safeguards than ordinary social media and email accounts.

“If INEC knows how the register was compromised, it must disclose the evidence, identify every officer involved, and explain why they have not been suspended and prosecuted. Amupitan cannot admit the misconduct, withhold the perpetrators’ identities, and expect Nigerians to accept ignorance as an excuse. He must account for this failure now,” he said.

The former vice-president also warned against what he described as attempts to quietly clean up the register without preserving evidence of the alleged manipulation.

He called for an independent forensic audit, citing allegations that more than 20 million AI-generated images could be involved.

Atiku urged INEC to preserve all voter records, image files, access logs and audit trails, while allowing accredited independent experts, political parties, civil society organisations and credible international observers to examine the materials.

He further demanded that no disputed record be certified until the proposed audit was completed.

Beyond the voter register controversy, Atiku accused INEC of failing to address opposition parties’ demands for transparency over companies contracted to produce sensitive election materials.

He insisted that the commission should publish the contractors’ identities and disclose the security protocols governing their operations.

According to him, keeping the information secret was incompatible with the demand for a credible electoral process, particularly when the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government was allegedly aware of the arrangements.

“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,” he said.

Atiku called on opposition leaders and the international community to demand an independent audit, full disclosure and accountability from the electoral commission.

He also accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of enabling the crisis by allowing 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 added.