Adegbuyi Urges Geographic Audit of Nigeria’s Voters’ Register

Former Postmaster-General of the Federation and CEO of the Nigerian Postal Service, Bisi Adegbuyi, is calling for a thorough technical review of Nigeria's voters' register. He argues that such an audit should focus on the geographic accuracy, consistency, and verifiability of registration records, beyond merely establishing voter identity.

This recommendation comes amid recent concerns about the integrity of the voters' register, including questions surrounding certain voter records. Adegbuyi asserts that ensuring credible elections hinges not just on how election results are transmitted, but also on the reliability of the geographic information tied to voter registrations.

In February 2026, Adegbuyi had previously proposed a technical framework aimed at modernising outdated voter addresses without disrupting ongoing electoral processes. His earlier plan suggested employing machine-assisted interpretation, geographic resolution, and deterministic digital location referencing to enhance voter-location data quality.

According to Adegbuyi, this method could enable electoral administrators to spot inconsistencies, detect abnormal geographic clusters, and bolster the auditability of polling-unit assignments. He emphasized that this framework would not necessitate replacing existing Permanent Voter Cards or the current biometric verification system; instead, geographic verification would act as an additional safeguard alongside identity and biometric checks.

The renewed push for this review coincides with recent doubts about the authenticity of voter photographs and potential procedural flaws in managing voter data. While Adegbuyi acknowledges that geographic verification alone cannot resolve all issues related to voter identity or data integrity, he argues that it could serve as a valuable supplement to existing verification measures, helping to spotlight discrepancies within the register.

He encourages the relevant authorities to conduct an independent technical assessment of his earlier recommendations, stressing that any review or implementation must comply with electoral laws, data-protection regulations, and the statutory oversight of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Adegbuyi's proposal integrates geographic data with identity and biometric information, advocating for a multi-faceted framework to fortify Nigeria's electoral infrastructure. This approach aims to equip electoral administrators with new tools for analysing voter-location patterns and pinpointing records that require further examination. He views the current scrutiny of the register as a timely opportunity to reassess technical methods that could enhance verification and accountability ahead of future elections.