‘Our Voters Register Is Not Clean And Genuine, But We Must Use It For 2027’ — Festus Okoye [VIDEO]

A former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Festus Okoye, has admitted that Nigeria’s current voters’ register is neither clean nor genuine, conceding however that the electoral body has no alternative choice than to use it for the upcoming 2027 general elections.

Okoye made the remark during a television interview appearance, addressing public concerns over the credibility and integrity of the voter database ahead of the polls.

Reacting to the transparency of the register in the video shared online, Okoye stated: ‘The truth of the matter is that there is nothing we can do now. What do you think could give the Nigerian people some confidence that the voter register we are going into this election with is healthy and is good to go?’

Describing the current database as lacking credibility, Okoye emphasized that immediate comprehensive reform is impossible ahead of the upcoming electoral cycle.

‘My position is that immediately after the conduct of the 2027 general election, Nigeria must have a new biometric voter’s register. I think that our voter’s register as presently constituted is not clean and cannot be said to be a clean voter’s register, it cannot be said to be a genuine voter’s register that we can go into an election with,’ Okoye said.

He reiterated that despite structural flaws in the current roll, logistical realities mandate proceeding with the existing register before transitioning to a completely overhauled biometric system post-election.

See video below: