The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed its resident electoral commissioners (RECs) to suspend plans for the voter revalidation exercise, initially set to begin on April 13, 2026.
The commission cited no reason for the suspension, but announced that a virtual meeting with RECs will now be held via Zoom on April 9, 2026.
The voter revalidation exercise was part of efforts to update the voter register ahead of the 2027 general election.
The commission had earlier provided a timeline for the exercise, which included:
- LGA level: April 13 – May 2
- Registration area level: May 5-11
- Polling unit level: May 13-19
INEC expressed regret over any inconvenience caused by the changes and assured commissioners of its consideration. Further directives will be issued on the exercise.
The suspension has raised questions about the preparedness of INEC to conduct credible elections in 2027.
The commission has faced criticism in the past for its handling of electoral processes.
