INEC Suspends Voters Revalidation Exercise

By Suleiman Anyalewechi 

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced the suspension of its planned controversial voters revalidation exercise across the country.

The Commission  has directed all Resident Electoral Commissioners to henceforth, temporarily, halt all publicity and arraignments in relation to the exercise.

The Source reports that INEC’s decision to embark on a nationwide voter revalidation exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections had been trailed by widespread indignation and outright condemnation by individuals, religious and community leaders, political parties, particularly the opposition and other interest groups who expressed the fears that the exercise, apart from smacking of a hidden agenda, is a recipe for chaos.

The Commission which had earlier scheduled April 13, 2026 for the commencement of the exercise, however, in a notice issued by its Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, dated April 4, 2026 while  announcing the suspension, asked all RECs to wait for further directives.

“RECs are also directed to step down all publicity and arraignments for the voter revalidation exercise and await further directives from the Commission”, the notice partly reads.

This is as the Commission also directed the RECs to continue all other necessary preparations for the exercise, including the sourcing of personnel as well as preparing INEC Voter Enrollment Devices.

The notice, also, informed about a virtual meeting scheduled for April 9,2026 between the Commission and the RECs.

“Further to the notice of meeting dated April 3,2026, please be informed that the meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners scheduled for Thursday April 9, 2026, at 11:00 am, will now hold virtually via Zoom.

 “Consequently, RECs are advised to remain in their States, and await the log-in details which will be shared once the meeting is set up”, the Commission added.