INEC postpones nationwide voter revalidation until after 2027 elections
INEC has postponed nationwide voter revalidation exercise until after the 2027 general election, reversing its April 2 directive. The decision was announced Friday by INEC spokesperson Mohammed Haruna following a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners. "Following deliberations, the commission resolved to postpone the exercise until after the 2027 General Election," the statement said.
The original exercise aimed to ensure a "credible voter register" but faced heavy criticism from political parties. African Democratic Congress called it a "recipe for chaos" that would suppress turnout and disenfranchise millions, especially with timing less than 10 months before polls. PDP faction led by Kabiru Turaki described the timing as "suspicious," questioning why it wasn't done earlier.
Both major parties expressed concerns about potential electoral manipulation and disenfranchisement. The postponement comes amid ongoing tensions between INEC and opposition parties over electoral processes ahead of 2027 polls.