By Nkechi Eze
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently clarify reports of a purported internal memo suggesting plans to embark on a nationwide voter revalidation exercise ahead of the next general elections.
The party warned that if the plan is genuine, it could trigger widespread confusion and potentially disenfranchise millions of eligible voters across the country.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party described the reported proposal as a “recipe for chaos,” particularly given its alleged timing less than ten months before the elections.
According to the ADC, requiring already registered voters to return and revalidate their registration details within such a short period could discourage participation and deepen the challenge of voter apathy.
“The African Democratic Congress has been inundated with reports of a purported internal memo from the Independent National Electoral Commission indicating plans to embark on a nationwide voter revalidation exercise,” the statement read.
The party therefore called on INEC to immediately confirm whether the leaked memo reflects an official policy of the Commission.
“We call on INEC to immediately confirm to Nigerians whether this memo is genuine and whether it indeed reflects an official plan of the Commission. If true, this development raises serious concerns and must be rejected outright as a recipe for chaos,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC argued that introducing a voter revalidation exercise at such a critical stage of the electoral cycle risks excluding a significant number of Nigerians who may be unable to travel to designated centres within the timeframe required for the exercise.
“Coming less than ten months to a general election, such an exercise risks disenfranchising millions of Nigerians. It is already difficult enough to get citizens to register to vote in the first place. To now require them to return and ‘revalidate’ their registration is, in effect, to ask them not to bother at all,” the party said.
The party further asked the electoral body to clarify what would happen to voters who are unable to participate in the exercise for legitimate reasons.
“INEC must clearly explain what happens to Nigerians who, for valid reasons, are unable to travel for this exercise. Are they to lose their right to vote simply because they cannot make it back to designated centres within a narrow window?” the statement queried.
The ADC also warned that introducing additional procedures that could discourage voter participation would further weaken public confidence in the electoral system.
“At a time when voter apathy is already a major challenge, any policy that adds new barriers to participation will only suppress turnout further. And when turnout is suppressed, the credibility of the electoral process is inevitably called into question,” Abdullahi said.
The party expressed concern that such a move, if implemented, could be perceived as benefiting the ruling party, warning the electoral commission to guard against actions that might undermine its credibility.
“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. The Commission’s credibility rests not just on what it does, but on how its actions are perceived by Nigerians,” the statement added.
The ADC also criticised the manner in which the alleged plan came to public attention, noting that a national exercise of such magnitude should not emerge through a leaked memo days before its proposed commencement.
“For an exercise of this magnitude, Nigerians deserve transparency, not ambiguity,” the party said.
According to the ADC, if voter revalidation was necessary, it should have been conducted immediately after the last general election rather than shortly before another electoral cycle.
The party therefore urged INEC to abandon the alleged plan and reassure Nigerians of its commitment to conducting 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 statement concluded.
