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The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has announced plans for a nationwide voter revalidation exercise aimed at sanitising Nigeria’s voter register ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during his first quarterly consultative meeting with civil society organisations (CSOs), saying the move was necessary to address long-standing flaws in the country’s electoral roll.
He said the commission had continued to grapple with issues such as underage registration, multiple voter registrations, and the retention of deceased persons on the register, noting that these challenges undermine public confidence in elections.
According to the INEC chairman, the credibility of any election depends largely on the integrity of the voter register, hinting that Nigerians must be able to trust the list used to conduct elections.
He explained that strengthening the register remains a core priority for the commission as it prepares for the next general polls.
However, the proposed revalidation exercise has raised legal and constitutional questions among election stakeholders.
Some civil society groups and legal experts argue that the Electoral Act 2022 makes provisions for continuous voter registration and periodic revision of the register, but does not expressly define or authorise a process described as voter “revalidation.”
They warn that making such an exercise compulsory for already-registered voters could introduce an additional requirement not clearly backed by law and may risk disenfranchising eligible voters if not carefully implemented.
Observers have also raised questions about the scope of the proposed exercise, including whether participation will be voluntary, how it will be conducted nationwide, and whether it will involve physical verification, biometric recapture, or digital confirmation.
Beyond preparations for 2027, Amupitan outlined INEC’s election schedule for 2026. He confirmed that elections into the Federal Capital Territory Area Councils will be held on February 21, alongside bye-elections in Rivers and Kano states.
He hinted that governorship elections have been scheduled for Ekiti State on June 20 and Osun State on August 8.
The INEC chairman also disclosed that 171 associations have applied for registration as political parties. He said many of the applicants failed to meet constitutional requirements, noting that successful associations would be announced in due course.
Amupitan urged civil society organisations and other stakeholders to intensify voter education efforts, tackle growing voter apathy, and promote greater inclusion, particularly among women and young people.
