Juliet Ezeh
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to clarify reports of a planned nationwide voter revalidation exercise, warning that implementing such a move less than a year before the general elections could disrupt the electoral process.
In a statement on Wednesday, ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party had received reports of a leaked memo suggesting that INEC may require already registered voters to revalidate their details.
“We call on INEC to immediately confirm whether this memo is genuine,” Abdullahi said, adding that if true, the plan must be rejected outright as a recipe for chaos.
He warned that asking millions of Nigerians to repeat part of the voter registration process so close to elections could discourage participation. “To now require them to return and revalidate their registration is, in effect, to ask them not to bother at all,” he said.
The ADC also raised concerns about citizens who may not be able to travel to designated centres for the exercise, questioning whether they would lose their right to vote due to logistical constraints.
According to the party, such a policy could worsen voter apathy and reduce turnout, which may affect the credibility of the elections. “At a time when voter apathy is already a major challenge, any policy that adds new barriers to participation will only suppress turnout further,” the statement said.
The party further alleged that confusion arising from the process could favour the ruling party, cautioning INEC against actions that may create such perceptions. “No matter its stated intentions, INEC must be careful not to lend itself to accusations of helping the ruling party rig the elections before the votes are even cast,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC also questioned why such a major exercise was reportedly being discussed through a leaked memo, just days before its proposed start. “For an exercise of this magnitude, Nigerians deserve transparency, not ambiguity,” the party added.
The statement concluded by urging INEC to abandon the alleged plan and reassure Nigerians of its commitment to a credible and inclusive electoral process. “Nigeria’s democracy cannot afford avoidable disruptions. The right to vote must not be subjected to last-minute administrative experiments,” the party said.
Juliet Ezeh is the founder and chief reporter at Westbridge Reporters with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers crime, industry, policy, and social developments, delivering timely and accurate reporting.