INEC Begins Voter Register Revalidation April 13

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to commence a nationwide revalidation of the voter register as part of efforts to enhance the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system.

In a public notice shared via its official X handle on Friday, the commission said the exercise would focus on cleaning up the register by removing ineligible entries.

According to INEC, the process will target the deletion of “null and ineligible voters, such as deceased, non-Nigerians, underage, and multiple registrations,” in line with existing legal provisions.

The commission clarified that the exercise is not a fresh registration but applies specifically to voters who registered between 2011 and 2024.

“The exercise is part of the commission’s efforts to revise, update, clean and strengthen the integrity, accuracy, inclusivity, and credibility of the national register of voters ahead of future elections,” the notice stated.

INEC disclosed that the revalidation would be conducted through both online platforms and physical centres nationwide, providing flexibility for eligible participants.

The exercise is scheduled to run in phases from April 13 to May 29, 2026, across local government areas, registration centres and polling units, with daily operations set between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., including weekends and public holidays.

For online participation, voters are required to access the commission’s portal, create an account and provide their voter identification number or personal details for verification.

“The system conducts biometric verification using a facial image, and data is checked against the central voter database to confirm voter identity,” INEC stated, adding that successful applicants would receive a notification and validation slip.

For those opting for physical verification, INEC said voters should visit designated centres with their identification details, where officials would carry out biometric checks and update necessary records.

“A slip or printout will be issued to the voter on completion of the process, while a message is sent to email or phone number if available,” the commission added.

The commission urged all eligible voters to participate in the exercise, describing it as crucial to ensuring credible elections and strengthening democratic processes in the country.