With timing of the exercise causing troubling apprehension in the polity, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed all the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to step down all publicity and arrangements for the voter revalidation exercise and await further directives.
The Commission expressed regrets over any inconveniences that the change might have caused its officials.
The electoral body had announced plans to commence a nationwide voter revalidation beginning from April 13 to May 29, 2026, and aimed at removing ineligible entries and strengthening the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.
In a public notice issued via its official X handle on Friday, the commission said the exercise would target the removal of “null and ineligible voters, such as deceased, non-Nigerians, underage, and multiple registrations,” in line with legal provisions.
Since it was announced, the move was greeted with lots of protestations in that it’s coming less than nine months to the 2027 polls. The Kwankwassiya movement had rejected the proposed voter revalidation exercise, warning that it could disenfranchise millions of eligible Nigerians ahead of future elections
“The revalidation exercise bears all the hallmarks of a systemic trap capable of suppressing voter turnout and excluding law-abiding citizens from exercising their fundamental right to vote,” the pro-Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso’s political group said.
On its part, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) pointed out that “Coming less than ten months to a general election, such an exercise risks disenfranchising millions of Nigerians. It is already difficult enough to get citizens to register to vote in the first place. To now require them to return and ‘revalidate’ their registration is, in effect, to ask them not to bother at all.”
Also weighing in through its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) said the timing is inappropriate and urged the commission to concentrate on more pressing matters.
“Exercise from the outset, the timing of the exercise is very wrong. The voter register has been there since the last general election, and they have not thought of what to do with it. So, to do that revalidation at this time, when they know how difficult it is for people to even register, is a further attempt in the INEC/APC political playbook to ensure a coronation, a president, an uncontested presidential election, and that’s what it is. So what’s the hurry? If you couldn’t do it early, then you leave it.”
In an apparent capitulation to these concerns, INEC, in a letter dated April 4, 2026, and signed by its Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, the commission directed all RECs to suspend preparations for the exercise, including sourcing personnel and getting INEC Voter Enrolment Devices ready.
“RECs are also directed to step down all publicity and arrangements for the voter revalidation exercise and await further directives from the commission,” the notice stated.
The letter, titled, ‘Notice of Meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (Virtual)’,’ also said the meeting with RECs earlier scheduled to be held physically on Thursday, April 9, at 11:00 a.m. will now be conducted virtually via Zoom.
“Further to the notice of meeting dated April 3, 2026, please be informed that the meeting of the commission with Resident Electoral Commissioners scheduled for Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. will now be held virtually via Zoom,” the notice read.
The commission advised RECs to remain in their respective states and await login details, which will be shared once arrangements for the virtual meeting are concluded.
