The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) National Presidential Campaign Council has strongly condemned the attack on the convoy of its Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi, in Calabar today.

In a statement signed by Spokesperson, Dr. Chiogo Constance Ikokwu , the party referenced similar previous attack on Mr Obi in Benue, where while traveling along the Makurdi-Gboko federal highway near the Nigerian Air Force Base in Makurdi, Obi’s convoy ran into a full roadblock mounted by a mob, apparently planted there.

The NDC-PCC, therefore called on the relevant authorities, particularly the state government and security agencies in Cross River State to act decisively – investigate this attack, identify and prosecute the perpetrators.

“They must not look the other way or conduct themselves in ways that suggest tolerance or complicity in political violence. Silence and inaction only embolden perpetrators.

Dr Ikokwu emphasised that Nigeria belongs to all of us, and every Nigerian has the right to campaign, associate and participate in politics without fear of violence. .

The campaign council warned that NDC will not be intimidated, silenced or deterred by violence. No one should imagine that power can be seized through threats, intimidation and attacks rather than earned through the democratic will of the people.

This is a crucial election for Nigeria. Our democracy must not be held hostage by political violence.”

•Lawrence Bayode

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has begun cleaning up the affected Register of Voters following the identification of records with suspected AI-generated photographs and other irregularities.

The commission’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Lawrence Bayode, confirmed this in a public statement on Sunday, emphasising that its Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) had flagged 268 records for review

.“What we are currently doing now is looking at all these 268 records that ABIS already flagged as AI-generated or even something of irregularities,” he said.

Bayode explained that some people allegedly used their official credentials to create questionable profiles, exploiting a registration option designed for persons with disabilities who do not have complete fingers or have no fingers.

According to him, the option, known as special registration, was used to deceive the system and was among the irregularities detected by ABIS.

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.”