The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Sam Amadi, and other stakeholders have criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its proposed voter revalidation exercise, describing the move as illegal, unnecessary and potentially harmful to credible elections ahead of the 2027 general polls.
Speaking at a briefing in Abuja, Amadi, a former chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, said the planned exercise could further weaken public confidence in the electoral body following concerns raised after the 2023 general elections.
He argued that while INEC has the statutory authority to update the voter register, the law does not empower the commission to compel already registered voters to undergo a fresh validation process. According to him, the Electoral Act 2022 only permits corrections of errors, removal of duplicate entries and registration of new voters—not a blanket revalidation of existing ones.
Amadi warned that conducting the exercise less than a year before the elections could disrupt INEC’s timetable and overlap with other critical preparations, while also worsening voter apathy due to limited public awareness and existing distrust in the electoral system.
He further expressed concern that the process could be manipulated to suppress votes in some regions, noting that the lack of transparency surrounding the exercise might make it difficult for Nigerians to independently verify participation data released by the commission.
“The supposed benefits of this exercise are far outweighed by the risks, including inefficiency, voter suppression, and further erosion of public trust,” he said, urging INEC to withdraw the directive.
Also speaking, researcher Paul Obi warned that proceeding with the exercise could trigger widespread electoral disputes if courts later determine that INEC lacks the legal authority to enforce voter revalidation.
He added that elections conducted using such a register could face legal challenges, potentially affecting outcomes at governorship, National Assembly and presidential levels.
In her remarks, Blessing Elaigwu said the proposed exercise could lead to wrongful inclusion and exclusion of voters, thereby undermining the integrity of the voter register and risking the disenfranchisement of legitimate voters.
The stakeholders called on INEC to prioritise ensuring that votes are freely cast, accurately counted and transparently declared, stressing that these remain the key issues affecting electoral credibility ahead of the 2027 elections.