PAUL Ibe, media adviser to former Vice-Presidentand presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its handling of the display of the voters’ register.
In a post on his X handle on Saturday, Ibe said political parties or candidates risked exclusion when they missed electoral deadlines, questioning why INEC should expect indulgence when it failed to meet its own legal obligations.
“When parties or candidates miss electoral deadlines, they risk exclusion. Why should @inecnigeria expect indulgence when it fails to meet its own legal obligations?” he wrote.
Ibe cited Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act2026, which requires the physical display and online publication of the voters’ register for public scrutiny within the stipulated 90-day timeline, arguing that physical display alone did not satisfy both requirements.
“Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 requires physical display and online publication of the voters’ register for public scrutiny within the stipulated 90-day timeline. Physical display alone does not satisfy both requirements,” he said.
He faulted INEC’s explanation that it was preparing a clean register for December, asking where the register had been published online and when.
“INEC’s explanation that it is preparing a clean register for December does not answer the question: where was the register published online, and when? Completing nine of 14 scheduled activities cannot excuse failure to comply with a statutory requirement,” Ibe stated.
He said INEC’s inability to demonstrate compliance with electoral law by publishing the voters’ register online before voting began could undermine public confidence in its promise to conduct free, fair and credible elections.
“If INEC cannot demonstrate obedience to electoral law by publishing the voters’ register online before voting begins, what confidence should Nigerians place in its promise of free, fair and credible elections?” he asked.
