The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed its planned nationwide voter revalidation exercise until after the 2027 general elections.
The announcement was made in a statement released on Friday by National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, following a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).
According to the commission, the proposed revalidation exercise was thoroughly reviewed during the meeting, after which it was resolved that the exercise would be deferred until after the 2027 polls.
INEC emphasized that voter revalidation remains a crucial part of its responsibility to maintain a credible and up-to-date National Register of Voters. The exercise is intended to verify voter records, correct inaccuracies, remove duplicate and ineligible entries, and enhance the overall integrity of the voter database. It also provides registered voters the opportunity to confirm and update their personal details.
Originally scheduled to run from April 13 to May 19, 2026, the exercise was to be conducted in three phases across local government areas, wards, and polling units nationwide.
Despite the postponement, INEC reiterated its commitment to conducting free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections. The commission explained that the decision was made to ensure a smooth and well-prepared lead-up to the 2027 general elections.
Meanwhile, Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will still take place from April 2026 to January 2027. INEC also continues to deploy electoral technologies such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and a hybrid results transmission system to strengthen the electoral process.
The 2027 general elections are scheduled as follows:
• Presidential and National Assembly elections: January 16, 2027
• Governorship and State Assembly elections: February 6, 2027
