INEC Orders Suspension of Voters’ Revalidation Exercise

Following intense criticism from the ADC, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and other civil society groups, INEC directed its Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to suspend all plans, publicity, and arrangements for the voter revalidation exercise.

Concurrently, the ADC launched its own nationwide Membership Revalidation, Mobilisation and Registration (MRMR) exercise to strengthen its internal database and preparedness for 2027.

The ADC maintained that if a revalidation was necessary, it should have been conducted immediately after the previous election cycle, not on the eve of a new one.

Consequently, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the weekend suspended its scheduled voters’ revalidation exercise across Nigeria.

The commission instructed its Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) across the country to halt all publicity and logistical arrangements for the planned nationwide voter revalidation exercise.

The directive was contained in an official communication signed by the Commission’s Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, barely days after INEC publicly declared that the voter revalidation exercise would begin nationwide on April 13, 2026.

According to INEC, the exercise is aimed at cleaning up and updating the voter register by allowing eligible Nigerians to confirm or update their details while also addressing issues such as duplicate registrations and outdated voter information

Also, the move signals a sudden shift in the commission’s preparations for the exercise, which is considered a critical step toward updating Nigeria’s voter register ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The voter revalidation process is widely seen as a sensitive and complex undertaking, requiring adequate preparation to ensure transparency, credibility, and public trust.

However, despite the suspension of physical activities, INEC clarified that preparatory work behind the scenes should continue.

Resident Electoral Commissioners were specifically instructed to proceed with internal arrangements, including the recruitment and deployment of personnel, as well as the readiness of the commission’s technological infrastructure such as the INEC Voter Enrolment Devices.

“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.

INEC also announced a change in the format of its scheduled meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC). Initially, the commission planned a physical gathering at the headquarters in Abuja, and the meeting will now be conducted virtually.

According to the notice titled “Notice of Meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (Virtual),” the session, earlier fixed for Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., will now take place 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 hold virtually via Zoom,” the notice read.

INEC advised all RECs to remain in their respective states and await further instructions, including login details for the virtual meeting, which will be communicated once arrangements are finalised.

“Consequently, RECs are advised to remain in their states and await the login details, which will be shared once the meeting is set up,” INEC said.

The commission reiterated its directive that all publicity campaigns and field preparations related to the voter revalidation exercise must be suspended until further notice. 

INEC also expressed regret over any inconvenience the changes might cause to its officials and stakeholders, assuring them that the decisions were made in the interest of ensuring a smooth and credible electoral process.

The commission emphasised that additional instructions would be communicated in due course, suggesting that a revised timeline or framework for the exercise may be under consideration.