The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the postponement of its planned nationwide voter revalidation exercise, and it is now to hold until after the 2027 General Election.
The decision to postpone the exercise followed the outcry the announcement generated, as many citizens said the timing for the exercise was wrong. However, the decision for the postponement was reached on Friday, April 10, during a meeting between the commission and all Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).
After extensive deliberations at the meeting, INEC eventually resolved to defer the exercise till a later date after the 2027 election. In a press statement issued by the commission, INEC described the voter revalidation as a “critical component” of its mandate to maintain a credible and up-to-date national register of voters.
The commission added: “It is designed to verify and review existing voter records, ensure the accuracy of personal data, eliminate duplicate and ineligible entries, and strengthen the overall integrity of the voter register.
“The exercise also aims to provide an opportunity for registered voters to confirm their details and make necessary corrections where required.” The statement was signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
