The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) on Friday called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently clean up the national voters’ register by removing the names of deceased Nigerians still appearing on the commission’s database.

Dr. Chiogo Constance Ikokwu, Spokesperson National Presidential Campaign Council of the party, said that the clean up is critical for a credible 2027 general election.

According to her, some deceased Nigerians, including prominent figures such as Raymond Dokpesi, Ifeanyi Ubah, Muhammadu Buhari and Rotimi Akeredolu, still appear on the voters’ register, raising serious questions about its accuracy and integrity.

“These are just a few names. What about the 774 local government areas across Nigeria? How many deceased persons remain on the register? When was it last comprehensively updated? Is this an oversight, institutional failure or something more troubling?,” she queried.

She emphasised that INEC has the legal responsibility to cleanse the register, especially if it has been notified by citizens.

Her words: The electoral body owes Nigerians answers. We demand a credible, up-to-date and verifiable voters’ register ahead of the 2027 elections.

We call on Nigerians, and political parties to take advantage of their rights and file objections to the electoral body so INEC can effect removals.

On its part, INEC needs to look into these complaints, establish a portal to put all names under objection and give persons against whom a complaint has been lodged the opportunity to respond (in the case of the living), as well as publishing the procedure to object to illegal names in the interest of the public.

The electoral body is a well-funded organisation paid for by citizens, and therefore must provide value for money.

Nigerians will accept nothing less than the highest standards of efficiency, professionalism and accountability from INEC.

The electoral body must demonstrate that it has the capacity, competence and commitment to deliver an election whose credibility cannot reasonably be called into question.

This is not too much to ask; it is the bare minimum expected of an institution entrusted with the people’s democratic mandate.

Furthermore, in light of the 2023 election credibility challenges, it is time for an independent, unbiased and professional audit of INEC processes and mechanisms.

The 2027 election is too critical for unanswered questions about the very foundation of our democracy. No excuses. No complacency. No questionable register. INEC must do its job.”

Former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has said 90 per cent of Nigerian politicians would not remain in office if democracy were practised as it should be, arguing that many officeholders did not emerge through the genuine choice of voters.

Okorocha spoke during an appearance on Arise News on Thursday, while reacting to the Federal High Court’s judgment nullifying Governor Hope Uzodimma’s emergence as the All Progressives Congress candidate for Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 elections and directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise Okorocha as the winner of the party’s May 18 primary.

“If democracy is practiced the way it should be practiced, 90% of people holding office in Nigeria cannot hold office,” he said.

Okorocha argued that political candidates were often imposed on voters rather than emerging through a credible democratic process.

“Most of them are not truly the choice of people. These are people who are imposed, opportunists, who find their way,” he said.

The former governor said the court judgment was significant beyond his personal political contest, arguing that it raised broader questions about the integrity of party primaries and the electoral process.

COURT TO UZODINMA: STOP PARADING YOURSELF AS APC SENATORIAL CANDIDATE

‎Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court in Abuja, has ordered the governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma to stop parading himself as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Imo West Senatorial election slated for January 16, 2027.
‎
‎Justice Egwuatu issued the order after holding that Uzodinma did not win the May 18 primary election conducted by the APC and monitored by INEC.
‎
‎The judge in his judgment held that evidence presented before the court proved that former governor rochas Okorocha actually won majority of the votes cast at the poll and should be published winner of the election.
‎
‎Egwuatu subsequently ordered the APC to forward Okorocha’s name as candidate of the APC in the 2027 general elections for Imo West Senatorial election.
‎
‎Details later.