The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has called for an independent forensic audit of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the discovery of irregularities in the 2025/2026 Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
The coalition also wants officials found responsible for deliberately manipulating voter registration records to face criminal prosecution, warning that the lapses could undermine public confidence in the 2027 general elections if not properly addressed.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Ezema, the CNPP described the revelations by INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, as a serious concern that requires independent investigation and wider institutional reforms.
According to figures disclosed by INEC, the commission removed 1,608,660 invalid voter registration records, expunged 873 verified records of deceased persons and identified 54 personnel across 10 states allegedly involved in registration irregularities.
The CNPP said the figures raised questions about the effectiveness of INEC’s internal monitoring systems and its ability to protect the integrity of the national voters’ register.
It argued that the commission should explain how the irregularities occurred, why its monitoring mechanisms failed to detect them earlier and what measures had been introduced to prevent similar incidents.
The coalition particularly called for independent investigations into the 54 personnel identified, insisting that any individual found to have deliberately manipulated electoral records or abused official authority should be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
It also urged investigators to establish whether the alleged misconduct involved only individual officers or wider networks of political actors and intermediaries.
On INEC’s proposed technological improvements, including stronger biometric authentication and the use of artificial intelligence, the CNPP cautioned that technology alone could not guarantee credible elections without proper oversight and accountability.
It called on the commission to publish its proposed AI governance framework, subject its digital systems to independent cybersecurity assessments and establish transparent audit trails to prevent unauthorised alterations of electoral records.
The group also urged INEC to address outstanding irregularities from previous voter registration exercises between 2011 and 2023, arguing that the latest clean-up should not be presented as proof that the entire voters’ register had been sanitised without independently verifiable evidence.
The CNPP further maintained that safeguards must cover every stage of the electoral process, from voter registration and party primaries to candidate nomination, voting, result collation and declaration.
Beyond INEC, the coalition called on the National Assembly to strengthen laws dealing with electoral offences. It proposed that deliberate and large-scale electoral subversion be considered a treason-related offence or attract penalties of equivalent seriousness.
However, it stressed that any new legislation must distinguish deliberate electoral manipulation from administrative errors, genuine procedural mistakes and legitimate electoral disputes, while respecting the constitutional rights of accused persons.
The organisation also raised concerns about INEC’s handling of politically sensitive party leadership disputes and judicial decisions, particularly the controversy involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
While acknowledging the commission’s responsibility to comply with valid court orders, it called for clear and publicly accessible procedures to ensure that judicial decisions affecting political parties are implemented consistently and without political bias.
The coalition also asked the National Assembly to revisit INEC’s proposal for early voting by essential election-duty personnel, including journalists, electoral officials and security operatives, whose responsibilities may prevent them from voting at their polling units on election day.
Among its demands, the CNPP wants an independent audit of INEC’s voter registration processes, digital infrastructure and internal controls; criminal investigations into the personnel identified; and the publication of a comprehensive report on the irregularities.
It also called for independent scrutiny of the final voters’ register by political parties, civil society organisations, election observers and qualified technical experts, alongside stronger security checks on BVAS and other electoral technologies.
The coalition warned that preparations for the 2027 general elections must go beyond public assurances and new technology, insisting that INEC must demonstrate its ability to prevent, detect and address electoral fraud before it compromises the process.
It maintained that Nigerians deserved an electoral system in which their votes were protected and officials found guilty of deliberately undermining the process were held accountable.
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