The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the postponement of its planned nationwide voter revalidation exercise until after the 2027 general election.
The decision was made known in a statement issued on Friday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, following a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).
According to INEC, the proposed revalidation exercise was reviewed during the meeting, after which the commission resolved to defer it until after the 2027 polls.
The commission described the exercise as a critical part of its responsibility to maintain a credible and updated National Register of Voters. It noted that the process is designed to verify existing voter records, correct inaccuracies, remove duplicate and ineligible entries, and enhance the overall integrity of the register.
INEC added that the exercise would also provide registered voters with an opportunity to confirm and update their personal information where necessary.
The revalidation exercise was initially scheduled to take place between April 13 and May 19, 2026, in phases across local government areas, wards, and polling units. Its aim was to sanitise the voter register by removing underage, deceased, and duplicate entries.
Despite the postponement, the commission reaffirmed its commitment to conducting free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections, stating that the decision was taken to ensure a seamless preparation for the 2027 general election.
INEC also confirmed that Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will run from April 2026 to January 2027. The commission noted that it will continue deploying technologies such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and a hybrid results transmission system.
The 2027 general elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, for presidential and National Assembly contests, and February 6, 2027, for governorship and State Assembly elections.
