2027: Opposition Parties Threaten Election Boycott Over 1.6m Deleted Voters

The African Action Congress (AAC) has threatened to boycott the 2027 general elections alongside other opposition parties if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fails to address the alleged removal of 1.6 million voter registrations from the preliminary voters’ register.

The party also warned that it could take legal action against the electoral commission over the development, which it described as an attempt to undermine Nigerians’ democratic rights and restrict participation in the electoral process.

AAC said it would not accept the alleged deletion without a clear explanation from INEC, demanding that the commission account for the affected registrations and provide details of the reasons behind their removal.

The FCT Chapter Chairman of the party, Agena Robert Ande, made the position known in a statement issued on Monday, November 9.

Ande accused INEC of carrying out what he described as an unacceptable exercise under the cover of reviewing the preliminary voters’ register.

He argued that removing such a large number of registrations without adequate public disclosure could prevent eligible Nigerians from exercising their constitutional right to vote in the 2027 elections.

According to him, the alleged action raises serious questions about the transparency of the electoral commission and the process through which Nigerians’ voter registration details are reviewed.

The AAC chairman expressed concern that young Nigerians, first-time voters and individuals who support opposition political parties could be among those affected by the exercise.

He questioned how the commission arrived at the figure of 1.6 million deleted registrations and demanded that INEC identify the individuals whose records were removed.

Ande also asked the electoral body to disclose the states, local government areas and polling units where the affected registrations were recorded.

He maintained that Nigerians deserved to know whether the affected individuals were removed because of duplicate registrations, incomplete information, errors in the registration process or other reasons recognised under electoral regulations.

The party insisted that a general announcement about the removal of the registrations would not be sufficient without providing information that would allow affected individuals and political organisations to verify the exercise.

In the statement, Ande described the alleged removal as a serious violation of democratic principles and questioned the justification for deleting the registrations without providing detailed information to the public.

He said, “This is not a routine cleanup. This is a deliberate, calculated and dangerous assault on the democratic rights of Nigerians. It is voter suppression dressed in administrative language.

“1.6 million Nigerians did not just disappear. 1.6 million Nigerians went out, queued, registered, and believed in this country.

“For INEC to now wake up and wipe them off the register without full transparency, without publishing the names, polling units, states, and reasons for each deletion, is a crime against democracy.”

The AAC FCT chairman subsequently demanded that INEC publish a comprehensive breakdown of the affected registrations, including information at the local government level.

He also called for the preliminary voters’ register to be made available for independent examination by political parties, civil society organisations and international observers.

According to the party, making the relevant information public would enable stakeholders to determine whether the exercise followed established procedures and whether eligible voters were wrongly excluded.

Ande further disclosed that the AAC FCT chapter would consult its legal team over the matter and explore the possibility of instituting legal proceedings against INEC.

He said the proposed court action would seek an order compelling the electoral commission to restore registrations that may have been wrongly removed.

The party also wants the court to prevent further deletions from the voters’ register without adequate disclosure and transparency.

The threat of legal action forms part of a wider response being considered by the party as preparations for the 2027 general elections continue.

Beyond the courts, the AAC chairman warned that the party could work with other opposition groups to organise protests and other forms of public mobilisation if INEC failed to respond to its demands.

He listed mass demonstrations, press conferences, petitions and nationwide mobilisation among the possible steps the party could take to challenge the commission’s handling of the voters’ register.

Ande also warned that the AAC might withdraw from the 2027 electoral process if the commission failed to address the concerns raised by the party.

Explaining the party’s position on participating in an election under the present circumstances, he said, “We cannot participate in an election where the referee is already deleting voters before the match begins,” the statement added.

AAC also appealed to other opposition political parties to work together in demanding accountability from INEC.

It urged civil society organisations, labour unions, student unions and Nigerians from different backgrounds to support efforts aimed at protecting the integrity of the voters’ register.

The party maintained that the credibility of an election depends not only on the conduct of voting and the announcement of results but also on ensuring that eligible citizens are properly registered and allowed to participate.

However, the AAC’s allegations and demands have yet to receive a response from INEC.