INEC reply to Atiku, ADC concerns over South-West Online pre-registration data
INEC reply to Atiku, ADC concerns over South-West Online pre-registration data
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed allegations of irregularities in its online pre-registration data for the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), stating there is nothing “extra-ordinary” about the figures.
The Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, made the clarification in a statement in Abuja.
This followed a statement from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) raising concerns over the numbers.
The ADC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, described the figures from Osun as “suspicious” and a challenge to “historical patterns and demographic realities.”
Abdullahi claimed that the nearly 400,000 new registrations in just seven days for Osun exceeded the state’s total new voters from the last four years combined.
He also noted that the South West zone accounted for an “extraordinary 67 per cent” of all nationwide pre-registrations.
In his reaction, Oyekanmi said the claim was “further from the truth.” explaining that the pattern of high online registration numbers for Osun was not new.
He recalled that from the released data for the one week online pre- registrations, INEC recorded 1,379,342 registrants with Osun, leading with 393,269, followed by Lagos with 222,205, and then the Federal Capital Territory with 107,682.
Oyekanmi also provided historical data from the 2021 CVR exercise, showing that Osun consistently led in online pre-registrations.
He recalled that within the first 24 hours of launching the portal on June 28, 2021, a total of 59,331 accounts were created.
“By the second week on July 12, 2021, a total of 456,909 accounts were active. Interestingly, Osun led with 154,893 pre-registrations at the time. In the third week, 752,011 persons had pre-registered and Osun was at the front with 232,880.
“By the eighth week on Aug. 23, 2021, a total of 2,215,832 persons had pre-registered with Osun still leading with 365,412.
“In the 11th week of the exercise on Sept.13 2021, a total of 2,953,094 individuals had pre-registered, with Osun still in the lead with 402,619.
“By April 18, 2022, a total of 8,271,647 Nigerians had pre-registered, and Osun was ahead of all states with 708,782 registrations,” Oyekanmi recalled.
He said a simple search of past public records would have provided the political party with the facts.
Oyekanmi also highlighted the rigorous verification processes that follow online pre-registration.
He explained that all online applicants must visit a designated centre for in-person registration, where their biometrics are captured.
He also noted that INEC’s Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) is used to detect and isolate double registrants.
“After all the processes and due diligence, over 14 million Nigerians were added to the National Register of Voters for the 2019 General Election, pushing the figure from almost 70 million to 84,004,084 voters.
“In the same manner, after the 2021/2022 CVR, over 9.4 million new voters were added to the register, totalling 93,469,008 for the 2023 general election,” he said.
Oyekanmi stressed that INEC’s duty was to ensure that only real persons who met the criteria stipulated in the 1999 Constitution and Electoral Act 2022 were registered, regardless of which state they came from.
He urged citizens to be “circumspect in going public with information based on sheer conjecture, when they could rely on authentic and verifiable data available from INEC official repositories.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Abdullahi in his statement, had wondered how Osun alone recorded 393,269 pre-registrations in just one week, while it added only 275,815 new voters between 2019 and 2023.
He noted that even at its highest point of political mobilisation in 2022, Osun has never produced more than 823,124 votes cast in the governorship election.
He also wondered that “across the six geopolitical zones, the South West alone accounted for 848,359 pre-registrations, an astonishing 67 per cent of the national total.
“By contrast, the entire South East recorded just 1,998 pre-registrations.
“To further illustrate, three states—Osun, Lagos, and Ogun—make up 54.2 per cent of all pre-registrations in Nigeria, while five states combined—Ebonyi, Imo, Enugu, Abia, and Adamawa—barely recorded 4,153, or 0.2 per cent, while the entire North East recorded just 6.1 per cent,” he said.
Abdullahi called on INEC to conduct a “full forensic audit” of the data, alleging the figures suggested a “technical ‘glitch’” or “deliberate manipulation of data.”
He further urged opposition parties and monitoring groups to jointly demand clarity and accountability from the commission. (NAN)
News
Governor, Emir, over 3 million crowd gather for Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass’ Maulud
Governor, Emir, over 3 million crowd gather for Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass’ Maulud
An estimated 3 million followers of Tijaniyya Islamic Sect from within and outside the country, on Saturday, converged on Katsina for the celebration of Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass’ Maulud, 2026.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event which took place at Muhammad Dikko Stadium, Katsina, was organised by the “Majma’u Ahbab Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass”.
The Chairman, organising committee, Sheikh Muhammad Hadi-Balarabe, said that they anticipated about 4 million guests from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as well as West and North African countries.
NAN gathered that almost all hotel rooms in Katsina metropolis were occupied by those who came from far places, the situation made some residents to provide their unoccupied houses for their visitors as a demonstration of hospitality.
Those who could not afford to lodge in hotel rooms slept in the stadium in spite of the cold weather.
Before 9a.m. of Saturday, the stadium had already filled to capacity, both the seats and pitch were occupied by people, while all available surrounding spaces inside the stadium were later occupied by people.
The dual carriage road linking to the venue from the WTC roundabout up to Barhin roundabout was filled up by people.
NAN also observed that the event presented opportunities for traders, especially those selling food, water, soft drinks, herbal medicine, clothing materials, books, among others to make brisk businesses.
Addressing the gathering, Sheikh Ibrahim Dahiru-Bauchi, thanked the Katsina State Government for hosting the historic event and prayed Allah to bring lasting peace, stability and prosperity to the state, Northern Nigeria and the country in general.
In his remarks, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, urged Muslims to continue to stand firm in obeying the commandments of their creator.
He advised them to intensify efforts in seeking Allah’s forgiveness, follow the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), endeavour to seek for knowledge, and engage in business activities to become self reliant.
Gov. Dikko Radda of Katsina, thanked the organisers for choosing his state to host the 2026 Maulud.
He appreciated the scholars for offerings prayers for peace and stability in the state and the country at large.
Radda revealed that with such prayers, peace was gradually returning to the state and urged them to sustain the prayers for the overall betterment of the state and Nigeria.
Sheikh Ibrahim Nyass’ eldest son, Sheikh Mahi Ibrahim-Nyass, represented by his younger brother, Sheikh Muhammad Ibrahim-Nyass, prayed Allah to repose the soul of the revered Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Usman-Bauchi, who passed away some months ago.
He urged the Muslims across the globe to continue to be united, love one-another and uphold the sect firmly.
A special prayer was also offered for Katsina, Nigeria and the leaders. (NAN)
News
Expatriate kidnapped as Police officer is shot dead by suspected gunmen
Expatriate kidnapped as Police officer is shot dead by suspected gunmen
Unknown gunmen on Saturday invaded Aqua Triton Company in Ogunmakin, near Ibadan, abducting an expatriate and killing a police officer attached to him.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, confirmed the incident in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan.
Olayinka said the police officer was killed while repelling the attack, adding that some of the abductors sustained gunshot injuries.
“There was an attack at Aqua Triton Company in Ogunmakin, near Ibadan, where unidentified gunmen stormed the facility in a commando-style operation.
“One police officer tragically died while repelling the attack, injuring some assailants, and the Chinese expatriate principal was abducted,” Olayinka added.
He said the Commissioner of Police, Femi Haruna, ordered the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Operations to lead anti-kidnapping and tactical teams to the scene.
According to him, bush-combing operations are ongoing, while investigations continue to rescue the victim and arrest those responsible. (NAN)
News
President Tinubu returns to Nigeria after Abu Dhabi outing
President Tinubu returns to Nigeria after Abu Dhabi outing
President Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after participating in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW 2026).
Presidential spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja.
The president attended the summit alongside some members of his cabinet.
On the sidelines of the summit, Nigeria signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The agreement is aimed at deepening economic cooperation, boosting bilateral trade and investment, and enhancing technology transfer.
It will also expand collaboration in key sectors, including energy, infrastructure, agriculture, mining and renewable energy.
In his address at the summit, Tinubu announced that Nigeria and the UAE would jointly host INVESTOPIA in Lagos in February.
The initiative is designed to attract global investors and accelerate sustainable investment inflows into Nigeria.
Tinubu also said Nigeria targets mobilising up to $30 billion annually in climate and green industrial finance.
He said the funds would support energy transition reforms and expand nationwide access to electricity. (NAN)
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