INEC Postpones Nationwide Voter Revalidation Exercise

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed its proposed nationwide voter revalidation exercise until after the 2027 general elections.

The commission reached the decision during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners held in Abuja on Friday, April 10, 2026.

NaijaChoice News reports that INEC described the revalidation as a key step to keep the National Register of Voters credible and current. It would have allowed registered voters to verify their details, correct errors, and remove duplicates, ineligible names, and outdated records.

In a statement signed by National Commissioner Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC said the exercise formed part of its mandate to strengthen electoral integrity.

“The voter revalidation exercise is a critical component of the Commission’s mandate to maintain a credible and up-to-date National Register of Voters,” the statement read.

INEC had earlier indicated plans to begin the exercise on April 13, 2026, as part of preparations for next year’s polls. Preparations were later suspended pending further review.

The commission stressed that it remains focused on delivering free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections across the country.

No fresh date was given for the revalidation, which many Nigerians had expected would help clean up the voter roll ahead of 2027.

Stakeholders have long raised concerns about the accuracy of the register, citing issues like multiple registrations and entries of deceased persons from previous polls.

INEC assured that the current register would be used for the 2027 elections while it continues internal work to improve data quality.