The Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM) in Diaspora has called for the resignation of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, and the Commission’s Director of Information and Communication Technology, Dr. Lawrence Bayode, over alleged irregularities in the preliminary Register of Voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group also demanded an independent forensic audit of the register, following revelations that individuals with authorised access to INEC’s registration systems allegedly introduced questionable entries, including photographs suspected to have been generated using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
COPDEM made the demands in a press statement signed by its Director-General, Dr. Ben Chukwu, and dated October 30, 2026, in Abuja.
The group’s reaction followed an interview granted by Bayode on ARISE News on Friday, October 30, during which he reportedly acknowledged that irregularities had been introduced into the Commission’s registration systems by individuals with authorised access.
COPDEM said the development raised concerns about the security of INEC’s electoral database, its internal control measures and the integrity of the institution responsible for conducting elections in the country.
It maintained that the credibility of the voters’ register was fundamental to the conduct of free and fair elections, adding that the reported irregularities required an independent investigation rather than being treated as routine technical failures.
The group said Amupitan, as INEC chairman, had institutional responsibility for the Commission’s operations, while Bayode had professional responsibility for the ICT systems under his supervision.
Although it acknowledged that individual criminal liability could only be established through due process, COPDEM insisted that both officials should resign or step aside pending the outcome of an independent investigation.
In its six-point demand, the group called for a comprehensive forensic audit of the preliminary Register of Voters by independent cybersecurity and forensic experts.
It said the audit should cover registration records, photographs suspected to have been AI-generated, biometric information, duplicate entries, access credentials, system logs and all modifications made to the database.
COPDEM also urged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate any evidence of corruption, conspiracy, abuse of office or deliberate electoral manipulation.
It called for the prosecution of anyone found culpable, irrespective of their position or status.
The group further asked INEC to publicly explain the extent of the reported irregularities, how they occurred, the personnel and access points involved, as well as the measures being taken to address the situation.
It also called on the National Assembly to summon the INEC chairman and relevant officials to explain the circumstances surrounding the development as part of its constitutional oversight responsibilities.
On the scheduled certification of the final Register of Voters on December 15, 2026, COPDEM said the exercise should not proceed without comprehensive verification, correction of questionable entries and independently verifiable safeguards against further manipulation.
The group said Nigerians in the Diaspora remained concerned about the credibility of the country’s electoral process and urged political parties, civil society organisations, the media, election-monitoring institutions and the international democratic community to demand accountability from INEC.
COPDEM stressed that its position was not in support of any political party or individual but was aimed at protecting democratic governance and the constitutional rights of Nigerians.
It added that public confidence in the electoral commission could only be restored through transparency, independent verification and demonstrable accountability, rather than assurances from the institution.
