• INEC has postponed the nationwide voter revalidation exercise until after the 2027 general elections
• The decision followed deliberations between the Commission and Resident Electoral Commissioners
• The Voter revalidation aims to clean up the voter register by removing duplicates, underage, deceased, and ineligible voters

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the postponement of its planned nationwide voter revalidation exercise until after the 2027 general elections.

The decision was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday, April 10, by the Commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, following a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

According to the statement, “Following deliberations, the commission resolved to postpone the exercise until after the 2027 General Election.”

INEC explained that the voter revalidation exercise remains a critical aspect of its mandate to maintain an accurate and credible National Register of Voters.

The exercise is designed to verify and review existing voter records, ensure the accuracy of personal data, remove duplicate and ineligible entries, and strengthen the overall integrity of the voter database.

“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 Commission stated.

The revalidation exercise was initially scheduled to take place between April 13 and May 19, 2026, in three phases across local government areas, wards, and polling units nationwide.

It was intended to sanitise the voter register by removing underage, deceased, and otherwise ineligible voters, while allowing eligible voters to update their information.

Despite the postponement, INEC reiterated that the exercise remains a “vital component” of its responsibilities and will be conducted after the 2027 polls.

In the meantime, the Commission has directed all Resident Electoral Commissioners to suspend all publicity and preparations related to the exercise.

In a letter dated April 4 and signed by INEC Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, RECs were instructed to halt ongoing arrangements and await further directives.

“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 expressed regret over any inconvenience caused by the postponement and assured stakeholders of its continued commitment to credible electoral processes.

The Commission reaffirmed that it “remains committed to the conduct of free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections.”

Meanwhile, Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) is expected to run from April 2026 to January 2027 as part of preparations for the upcoming elections.

INEC also plans to deploy technology-driven solutions such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and a hybrid results transmission system to enhance transparency.

The 2027 general elections are scheduled to hold on January 16, 2027, for Presidential and National Assembly elections, and February 6, 2027, for Governorship and State Assembly elections.

2027 elections: ADC warns of electoral crisis over INEC’s proposed voter revalidation

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had raised alarm over a reported plan by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a nationwide voter revalidation exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that it could disenfranchise millions of Nigerians.

The party expressed concern that the timing of the proposed exercise, less than ten months before the elections, could undermine access to voting, weaken public confidence, and compromise the credibility of the electoral process.