Yiaga Africa faults INEC on planned voter revalidation exercise

By Perpetua Onuegbu

A civil society organisation (CSO), Yiaga Africa, has described the planned voter revalidation exercise by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a good policy but coming at a wrong time.

The organisation’s Executive Director, Mr Samson Itodo, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, acknowledged the fact that Nigeria’s voter register was in dire need of urgent clean-up to remove errors, multiple registrants and dead persons.

“The much talked about INEC revalidation exercise is definitely a great approach to clean the register.

“However, the timing of the exercise is deeply problematic. As of this moment, the framework, scope, procedures and implications are unknown to the public.

“A voter revalidation exercise has serious political and electoral consequences. So timing and transparency are absolutely critical.

“This is a case of a good policy implemented at a wrong time. The 2027 electoral cycle has the most compressed timelines for electoral activities, and it is clear the system is over-stretched.

“Continuous voter registration is still ongoing, political party primaries are set to begin in a matter of weeks, and delays in the release of funding to INEC have already placed enormous pressure on the commission’s preparations,” he said.

According to him, introducing a nationwide revalidation exercise risks overwhelming the system, confusing voters and potentially suppressing participation, especially among those who might not understand the process or miss the revalidation deadline.

Itodo, therefore, urged INEC to proceed with caution and reconsider the timing, adding that the most appropriate time for revalidation should be immediately after the general elections.

“At this time, there is more time for proper planning, consultation, public sensitisation and implementation without undermining the credibility of the electoral process,” he stated.

(NAN)