INEC delays voter revalidation until after 2027 elections

Nigeria’s electoral body has postponed its planned nationwide voter revalidation exercise, shifting it beyond the 2027 general elections despite earlier plans to update the country’s voter register ahead of the polls.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disclosed the decision after a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners, where key electoral timelines and priorities were reviewed. The commission maintained that while the revalidation exercise remains important, it will no longer take place before Nigerians head to the polls in 2027.

Although INEC did not give a specific reason for the postponement, the decision raises questions about how the voter register will be updated ahead of what is expected to be a highly contested election cycle.

The revalidation exercise is designed to clean up the voter database by verifying existing records, correcting errors, and removing duplicate or ineligible entries. It also gives registered voters the chance to confirm and update their personal details, helping to strengthen the credibility of the electoral process.

Despite shelving the exercise for now, the commission insists it remains committed to delivering credible elections across the country.

Election timeline already adjusted

The delay comes against the backdrop of recent changes to the election timetable, which saw INEC move the 2027 general elections earlier than initially planned.

Presidential and National Assembly elections are now scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections will follow on February 6, 2027.

The adjustment was made after the repeal of the Electoral Act 2022 and the introduction of the new Electoral Act 2026, which altered timelines for pre-election activities.

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Rising cost of elections

Alongside logistical adjustments, the financial cost of conducting elections has also increased significantly. INEC has projected that it will require ₦873.78 billion to organise the 2027 elections, almost three times the amount spent on the 2023 polls.

In addition, the commission estimates it will need ₦171 billion to fund its operations in 2026 alone, highlighting the growing complexity and scale of managing elections in Nigeria.

Amid ongoing debates around the transmission of election results, INEC has reiterated its intention to deploy more technology to improve transparency, even as concerns remain about network limitations in some parts of the country.

For now, the postponement of the voter revalidation exercise means the existing register will play a central role in the 2027 elections, placing greater pressure on the commission to ensure its accuracy without the planned nationwide review.