WorldStage— The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Dr. Sam Amadi, has stated that Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu should not be held responsible for the ongoing controversy surrounding the voter register recently released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Speaking during a broadcast interview on Monday, November 2, 2026, Amadi maintained that the responsibility for rectifying any alleged irregularities in the national voter register lies strictly with the electoral commission.
He emphasized that President Tinubu should be viewed and treated just like any other political competitor rather than being dragged into the operational failures of an independent body.
According to Amadi, the executive branch does not exercise direct management or administrative control over the daily running of INEC’s electoral processes.
He noted that political parties must step up to engage the commission directly, stressing that a credible voter register serves as the core foundation upon which technologies like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) operate.
The controversy erupted following public scrutiny of the figures and details contained in the register ahead of the upcoming electoral cycle, with various political figures raising alarms over transparency and data accessibility.
Critics and opposition voices have frequently targeted the presidency over perceived institutional shortcomings.
But Amadi pushed back against shifting the blame to the Villa, arguing that accountability must be channeled directly to the leadership of INEC.
However, he did not spare the leadership of the commission, asserting that INEC must take immediate, independent action to save the credibility of the upcoming 2027 general elections.
He urged the commission’s chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to immediately commission an independent technical audit of the voter registry to address public anxieties.
“The leadership has failed, in my view, to adequately address voter register concerns,” Amadi added, warning that leaving the discrepancy unresolved could deep-seat voter apathy, particularly among young Nigerians.
He emphasized that the umpire must openly acknowledge the public’s concerns and provide a binding timeline to verify and clean up the database.
He noted that transparently addressing public concerns and clarifying anomalous figures—such as disputed tallies of registered voters—is crucial to restoring confidence among citizens and young voters.
He warned that failing to provide clear explanations and verifiable data risks deepening public cynicism toward the electoral process.
The voter register has recently sparked intense national debate following allegations of irregularities.
Critics, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, have raised concerns over a reported total of 103 million registered voters, alongside claims of suspicious voter population increases in specific polling units.
Atiku criticized the electoral umpire for failing to display the preliminary list transparently on its online portal during the designated public scrutiny window.
As political parties and civil society groups ramp up pressure over the 103 million names, the focus remains firmly fixed on whether INEC will heed the call for an independent audit to restore trust in Nigeria’s democratic framework.
