INEC Suspends Nationwide Voter Revalidation Amid Controversy

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ordered all Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to stop all arrangements and publicity for the planned voter revalidation exercise.

.....

Naija News reports that the directive was contained in a letter addressed to RECs, dated April 4, 2026, signed by its Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

All RECs were ordered to pause their activities and await further instructions from the electoral commission.

The notice said the meeting of the commission with RECs, scheduled for April 9 at 11am, will now be held via Zoom.

The development comes amid concerns from stakeholders, including political scientists and the opposition, about the exercise.

The INEC had announced a nationwide revalidation exercise aimed at sanitising the voter register by removing ineligible entries and strengthening the credibility of future elections.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) had earlier alleged that the voter revalidation exercise would be a “recipe for chaos” as it could disenfranchise millions of Nigerians ahead of the elections.

In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party argued that requiring registered voters to revalidate their details less than 10 months to the polls would suppress turnout, deepen voter apathy, and unfairly exclude those unable to travel.

The ADC also questioned why such a major exercise is emerging just days to its proposed commencement, cautioning the INEC against actions that could be perceived as aiding “electoral manipulation.”