INEC postpones nationwide voter revalidation exercise

• Raises the alarm over campaign of calumny against Amupitan

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has postponed the nationwide voter revalidation exercise until after the 2027 general election.

The decision to postpone the exercise was taken at the meeting of INEC Chairman and other top officials with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Friday in Abuja.

The Commission, in a statement by Mallam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, IVEC, however reiterated that it (INEC) remains committed to the conduct of free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections.

The statement reads, “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held a meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) today (yesterday), Friday, 10th April 2026, during which, among other issues, the proposed nationwide voter revalidation exercise was considered.

“Following deliberations, the Commission resolved to postpone the exercise until after the 2027 General Election.

“The voter revalidation exercise is a critical component of the Commission’s mandate to maintain a credible and up-to-date National Register of Voters.

“It is designed to verify and review existing voter records, ensure the accuracy of personal data, eliminate duplicate and ineligible entries, and strengthen the overall integrity of the voter register.

“The exercise also aims to provide an opportunity for registered voters to confirm their details and make necessary corrections where required.

“INEC remains committed to the conduct of free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections”, the statement concluded.

Meanwhile, the commission has raised the alarm over what it called

“a malicious and coordinated campaign of calumny circulating on social media”, alleging that its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has, in the past, endorsed a partisan post on the platform X (formerly Twitter).

The Commission stated, categorically, that this allegation is entirely baseless, a total fabrication, and a figment of the imagination of its purveyors.

It stated that for the avoidance of doubt, the INEC Chairman does not own or operate any personal account on X, stressing that he has, at no time engaged in partisan commentary, nor has he ever associated himself with any political leaning or activity in his private or public capacity.

A statement by Adedayo Oketola,

Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman

Abuja, said, “The attention of the Office of the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has been drawn to a malicious and coordinated campaign of calumny circulating on social media.

“The false claim alleges that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has, in the past, endorsed a partisan post on the platform X (formerly Twitter).

“The Commission wishes to state categorically that this allegation is entirely baseless, a total fabrication, and a figment of the imagination of its purveyors.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the INEC Chairman does not own or operate any personal account on X. “He has at no time engaged in partisan commentary, nor has he ever associated himself with any political leaning or activity in his private or public capacity.

“This contrived X post is a desperate attempt to impugn the integrity and neutrality of the Chairman at a critical period when the Commission is focused on significant electoral reforms and preparations for upcoming polls.

“It is a needless distraction designed to stir public distrust in the electoral umpire.

“Beyond this partisan mischief, the Commission is aware that cybercriminals have been on the prowl, utilising fake social media accounts in the Chairman’s name to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians. “We wish to place it on record that several of such fraudulent accounts had been identified and reported to security agencies in the past. This latest fabrication is merely a continuation of a criminal pattern aimed at exploiting the Commission’s profile for illicit gains.

“The Commission will not fold its arms while the character of its leadership is being assassinated by digital imposters and mischief-makers.

“We wish to notify the public that we are working in close collaboration with relevant security agencies and cyber-intelligence units to track and identify the individuals or groups behind this identity theft and misinformation”, the statement said.