Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that its planned nationwide voter revalidation exercise will no longer take place before the 2027 general elections.
Gatekeepers News reports that the decision was reached after a meeting between the commission and its resident electoral commissioners (RECs), according to a statement issued by Mohammed Haruna, INEC’s national commissioner in charge of information and voter education.
Originally scheduled to begin on April 13, 2026, the exercise was intended to update and clean up Nigeria’s voter register ahead of the next election cycle. However, the commission has now shifted the exercise to a post-election period.
INEC explained that the revalidation process is designed to verify existing voter records, correct personal details, remove duplicate or invalid entries, and generally strengthen the credibility of the electoral register. It would also allow registered voters to confirm or update their information where necessary.
The postponement follows an earlier directive issued in early April instructing RECs to suspend all publicity and logistical preparations for the exercise pending further review.
Stakeholders had raised concerns about the timing of the exercise, warning that conducting such a nationwide verification too close to the 2027 elections could create logistical challenges and potentially disenfranchise voters.
Despite the delay, INEC reiterated its commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible elections, noting that the revalidation exercise remains a key reform aimed at improving the integrity and accuracy of Nigeria’s voter database.
