The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to commence a nationwide voter register revalidation exercise on April 13, 2026, as part of preparations for the 2027 general election.
In a letter signed by the commission’s secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, resident electoral commissioners (RECs) across the country were directed to begin necessary arrangements, including mobilising personnel and preparing INEC voter enrolment devices (IVED) for the exercise.
According to the outlined schedule, the exercise will begin at the local government area (LGA) level from April 13 to May 2, proceed to the registration area (RA) level from May 5 to May 11, and conclude at polling units (PUs) from May 13 to May 19.
Ahead of the rollout, INEC organised a training-of-trainers workshop on March 30 at The Electoral Institute (TEI) to equip officials for the process. The chairman of the institute’s board, Kunle Ajayi, stressed the importance of the exercise, stating that a credible election starts with a credible voter register and urging participants to remain committed, noting that “the success of the revalidation exercise rests on their shoulders.
Earlier in February, INEC chairman Joash Amupitan said the revalidation was necessary to address persistent issues affecting the voter register, including duplicate and underage registrations, entries by non-citizens, the inclusion of deceased persons, and inaccurate voter records.
He noted that although the register, first compiled ahead of the 2011 general election, has been regularly updated, it requires periodic review to maintain its integrity and reflect current realities. As of the 2023 general election, the register stood at over 93 million voters, but concerns over its credibility remain.
“A credible register remains the bedrock of free, fair and transparent elections,” Amupitan said. “No electoral process can command public confidence without trust in the integrity of its voters’ register.”
