Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, Sam Amadi, alongside other stakeholders, has faulted the directive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) mandating the revalidation of registered voters, describing it as illegal, unnecessary, and a threat to credible elections ahead of 2027.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Amadi, a former chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, raised concerns over INEC’s preparedness and the lingering trust deficit following the 2023 general elections.
He warned that the proposed revalidation exercise could further erode public confidence rather than restore it.
According to him, while INEC has statutory powers to update the voter register, compelling already registered voters to undergo a fresh validation process is not supported by law.
He argued that the Electoral Act only empowers the commission to correct errors, remove duplicates, and register new voters—not to enforce a blanket reconfirmation of voter status.
Amadi also cautioned that the timing of the exercise—less than a year to the general elections—could disrupt INEC’s schedule and clash with other critical electoral activities. He added that low public awareness and prevailing distrust in the system could worsen voter apathy.
He further expressed fears that the process could be manipulated to suppress votes in certain regions, noting that the lack of transparency may make it difficult for Nigerians to independently verify participation data released by INEC.
“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 rescind the directive.
Speaking also, researcher Paul Obi warned that proceeding with the exercise could trigger widespread electoral disputes and possible cancellations.
He argued that if courts determine that INEC lacks the legal authority to enforce voter revalidation, elections conducted using such a register could be invalidated.
Similarly, another stakeholder, Ibe, noted that disenfranchising a significant number of voters could undermine the legitimacy of elections at all levels, including governorship, National Assembly, and presidential polls.
In her remarks, Blessing Elaigwu, a student of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought, cautioned that the exercise could open the door to wrongful inclusion and exclusion of voters.
She warned that the introduction of unverified data could compromise the integrity of the voter register, while legitimate voters risk being shut out.
The stakeholders collectively urged INEC to prioritise measures that ensure votes are freely cast, accurately counted, and transparently declared, stressing that these remain the core issues affecting electoral integrity in Nigeria.
They maintained that pursuing a controversial and legally questionable revalidation exercise would only deepen existing distrust in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 elections.
