The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says the planned revalidation of Nigeria’s voter register is aimed at correcting inaccuracies in the current database, which he says contains about 93 million registered voters.
Speaking to newsmen, the INEC Chairman said the exercise— which will require voters to present their National Identification Number (NIN) — had been conceived before he assumed office but was delayed due to budget constraints.
He explained that the commission had now included the exercise in the current budget to enable its implementation.
He said the existing voter register is not reliable for measuring electoral credibility, citing cases of multiple registrations and deceased persons still appearing on the list.
According to him, turnout patterns in past elections also indicate discrepancies in the voter database, noting that figures used both locally and internationally to assess elections must be accurate.
The INEC Chairman also dismissed concerns raised by opposition parties that the exercise could disenfranchise voters, especially in rural communities with limited access to NIN registration.
He said the revalidation exercise will be carried out in phases, beginning with stakeholder engagement and framework development, followed by field testing and full implementation.
He added that consultations with state electoral officials and stakeholders are ongoing to ensure a smooth process before nationwide rollout.
