In a shocking revelation, credible sources within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have exposed an alleged scheme to manipulate Nigeria’s 2027 general elections in favor of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). According to insider information first reported by SaharaReporters, this elaborate plot is being orchestrated by INEC’s ICT and Operations departments under outgoing Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu, with plans to hand over the reins to a trusted successor to execute the strategy.
A Refined Rigging Blueprint Post-2023Insiders claim that INEC has been perfecting its rigging tactics since the widely criticized 2023 elections. The new strategy allegedly focuses on undermining the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal by uploading pre-prepared results from selected polling units. This tactic was reportedly tested during the off-season governorship election in Kogi State, where pre-filled results appeared on IReV as early as 8 a.m. on election day. Similar manipulations are said to have occurred in the Ondo and Edo governorship polls, as well as several by-elections, consistently favoring the APC.
Compromised Voter RegistrationThe first phase of this alleged plot is already underway through the ongoing voter registration exercise. According to SaharaReporters, INEC’s Operations Department is accused of leaking sensitive data about newly created polling units—particularly those with low voter turnout—to the APC. By directing loyalists to re-register in these underpopulated units, the APC aims to dominate these polling stations, enabling unchallenged manipulation on election day.
“They’re populating low-turnout polling units with APC loyalists by encouraging re-registration, even for voters who don’t meet eligibility criteria,” a source revealed. “INEC has deliberately avoided publishing clear guidelines on who qualifies for this registration, such as new voters who turned 18 since 2022. Instead, they’re allowing people who lost their PVCs or need to transfer voting locations to re-register, which violates INEC’s own rules.”This strategy is reportedly being executed in collaboration with electoral officers and local government chairpersons nationwide.
IReV Manipulation in MotionThe alleged tampering with IReV is already operational, with test runs conducted during recent by-elections. Sources claim it will be deployed again in upcoming governorship elections in Anambra, Osun, and Ekiti states. Under the supervision of Abdulrazak Tukur Yusuf, INEC’s Director of Operations since 2023, the Commission is reportedly producing two “original” versions of polling unit result sheets (Form EC8A) with identical serial numbers. One is provided to presiding officers, while the other is allegedly given to APC operatives for pre-filled results.
While genuine results may initially be uploaded to IReV, these are later replaced with fabricated versions from INEC’s situation room, with ICT staff facilitating the process. This dual-original strategy reportedly extends to ward (Form EC8B) and local government (Form EC8C) collation levels, with APC-trained operatives using configured BVAS machines to upload falsified results.
Legal Cover for RiggingINEC’s legal department is allegedly complicit, certifying only the pre-arranged “original” result sheets provided to APC agents for use in election tribunals. As the official custodian of election results, INEC can present these documents as authentic, while genuine polling unit results are dismissed as uncertified. The planned phase-out of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) further complicates verification, as it becomes impossible to cross-check voter numbers against BVAS accreditation data, allowing inflated figures from manipulated polling units to go unchallenged.
“This is a deliberate rollback of Nigeria’s electoral reforms, designed to secure a second term for President Tinubu, who faces little chance in a transparent election,” a source told SaharaReporters
Compromised Recruitment for 2027INEC is reportedly planning to recruit politically aligned ad-hoc staff and collation officers for 2027. Beyond NYSC corps members at polling units, most officers at ward and higher levels will allegedly come from federal agencies and universities loyal to the APC. This aligns with a proposed policy allowing civil servants to engage in partisan politics, ensuring their availability for election manipulation. A list of compromised collation officers, including university professors who facilitated past rigging, is allegedly being shared with APC leaders. The controversial appointment of Professor Edoba Omoregie as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, despite ranking 21st out of 25 candidates, was cited as an example of rewarding political loyalty.
Abdulrazak Yusuf: The Central FigureAt the heart of this alleged plot is Abdulrazak Tukur Yusuf, formerly INEC’s Director of Electoral Operations and now a National Commissioner. Sources claim Yusuf orchestrated the production of duplicate result sheets and leaked sensitive election material serial numbers to APC politicians during the 2023 elections. His controversial elevation to National Commissioner, bypassing constitutional processes, has fueled speculation that he is being groomed to succeed Yakubu as INEC Chairman. Yusuf’s history of alleged misconduct dates back to his role as INEC Administrative Secretary in Kano during the APC’s controversial 2015 landslide victory, a year marked by the mysterious death of Kano’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in an unsolved fire.
Tinubu’s Search for a Loyal SuccessorAccording to a source at the Presidential Villa, President Tinubu is considering several compromised INEC officials as potential successors to Yakubu, including Sam Olugbadebo Olumekun, Moses Ogbe, and Kenneth Ukeagu. However, concerns about their corruption records and ethnic balance have led Tinubu to favor Yusuf as a “dark horse” candidate to oversee the 2027 rigging strategy.
Credit: This report is based on an exclusive investigation by SaharaReporters. For the original story, visit SaharaReporters.com.
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