-
Postpones Exercise to After 2027 Elections
- Safiu Kehinde
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has bowed to public pressure as it announced the postponement of the voters’ revalidation exercise.
Having come under fire over the scheduling of the exercise initially slated to hold before election, INEC at a meeting held with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Friday resolved to postpone the exercise till after the 2027 General Elections.
This was made known in a statement issued by the commission’s Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Muhammad Haruna.
According to Haruna, the commission postponed the exercise following the meeting.
He however reiterated the need for the revalidation which, according to him was designed to verify and review existing voters’ record.
“Following deliberations, the Commission resolved to postpone the exercise until after the 2027 General Election.
“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.
“It is designed to verify and review existing voter records, ensure the accuracy of personal data, eliminate duplicate and ineligible entries, and strengthen the overall integrity of the voter register.” Haruna wrote.
The National Commissioner further explained that the exercise also aims to provide an opportunity for registered voters to confirm their details and make necessary corrections where required.
NPO Reported that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had earlier this week called out INEC over the plan to commence revalidation of registered voters in less than ten months to the 2027 General Elections.
ADC raised the alarm foĺlowing a leaked memo from INEC.
According to reports, the commission had, in the internal memo dated 2 April and signed by Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, asked all Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) to embark on a nationwide voter revalidation exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections
The opposition party warned that the move, if executed, would be a “recipe for chaos” capable of disenfranchising millions of Nigerians ahead of the elections.
Also reacting to the development, the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the timing of the planned voter revalidation exercise as “suspicious”.
The faction in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, alleged that the planned revalidation is a plot to disenfranchise Nigerians.
“The timing of the exercise is suspicious, especially with the manner in which the commission has been acting.
“The question is, why now? Why wasn’t it done a year or two ago?
“This can be seen as an attempt to disenfranchise Nigerians,” Ememobong wrote.