The Independent National Electoral Commission has directed resident electoral commissioners to temporarily halt publicity and arrangements for the planned voter revalidation exercise across the country. 

The directive came days after the commission announced plans to commence the revalidation on April 13, as part of efforts to update the voter register ahead of the 2027 general elections. 

In a letter titled, “Notice of Meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (Virtual),” dated April 4, 2026 and signed by its Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, INEC directed all RECs to suspend the process and await further directives. 

The commission stated, “RECs are also directed to step down all publicity and arrangements for the voter revalidation exercise and await further directives from the commission.”

The INEC, however, directed the RECs to continue necessary preparations for the exercise, including sourcing personnel and preparing INEC Voter Enrolment Devices.

The commission further announced a virtual meeting with RECs scheduled for April 9 at 11:00am, urging them to remain calm and await login details. 

“Further to the notice of meeting dated April 3, 2026, please be informed that the meeting of the commission with Resident Electoral Commissioners scheduled for Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. will now hold virtually via Zoom.

“Consequently, RECs are advised to remain in their states and await the login details, which will be shared once the meeting is set up,” the commission stated.

The commission added that it regretted any inconveniences the directive might cause.

Contacted on Sunday, Dayo Oketola, spokesperson to INEC chairman, Joash Amupitan, could not immediately confirm the development and the reasons for the suspension of the planned exercise.

Meanwhile, civil society organisation, Yiaga Africa, on Thursday faulted the timing of the planned voter revalidation by INEC.

The organisation’s Executive Director, Samson Itodo, however, acknowledged that Nigeria’s voter register was in dire need of urgent clean-up to remove errors, duplicate registrants, and deceased 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,” Mr Itodo stated.