Nigerians living in the United Kingdom on Thursday protested outside Chatham House in London, surrounding the vehicle conveying the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan.
The demonstrators reportedly blocked the vehicle as the electoral chief attempted to leave the venue, demanding that he come out and address their concerns about alleged irregularities in Nigeria’s voters’ register ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Videos from the incident showed several protesters surrounding a black vehicle believed to be carrying Amupitan. Some held placards and documents while shouting for him to step out and respond to their questions.
The protesters accused the INEC chairman of avoiding accountability and questioned the independence of the electoral commission.
They also expressed frustration over the country’s economic challenges, repeatedly chanting that Nigerians were hungry.
The demonstration followed growing concerns over INEC’s preliminary voters’ register, which reportedly contains questionable entries, including suspected AI-generated photographs, duplicate registrations and names of deceased persons.
The development has raised concerns about the credibility of the register and INEC’s readiness to conduct transparent elections in 2027.
Amupitan had earlier acknowledged the concerns, particularly reports of AI-generated photographs and other discrepancies in the register. He assured Nigerians that the commission was reviewing the records and would take necessary corrective measures based on verified findings.
The protest took place as the INEC chairman attended a discussion at Chatham House titled “Nigeria’s 2027 Elections: Democratic Trajectory and Regional Stability Beyond the Ballot.”
The event was organised in partnership with the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI).
During the engagement, Amupitan appealed to Nigerians to trust his leadership, assuring them that INEC was committed to conducting free, fair and credible elections in 2027.
However, the confrontation outside the venue highlighted growing dissatisfaction among some Nigerians in the diaspora over the commission’s handling of the voters’ register.
The protesters are demanding explanations over the disputed entries, insisting that INEC must address the concerns to restore public confidence in the electoral process.
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