The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to clarify reports of a proposed nationwide voter revalidation exercise, warning that such a move could disrupt the electoral process and disenfranchise millions of Nigerians.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party described the alleged plan—said to be contained in a leaked internal memo—as “a recipe for chaos,” particularly given its timing less than ten months before the next general elections.
The ADC expressed concern that requiring already registered voters to revalidate their details so close to the polls would discourage participation and deepen voter apathy. According to the party, many Nigerians may be unable to travel to designated centres within the limited timeframe, effectively stripping them of their right to vote.
“It is already difficult enough to get citizens to register to vote in the first place,” the statement read. “To now require them to return and ‘revalidate’ their registration is, in effect, to ask them not to bother at all.”
The party questioned why such a significant exercise would surface through a leak just days before its reported commencement, describing the development as lacking transparency. It warned that any policy perceived to create confusion or barriers to participation could undermine public confidence in the electoral system.
The ADC further cautioned INEC against actions that could be interpreted as favouring the ruling party, noting that suppressed voter turnout often raises concerns about the credibility of election outcomes.
Calling for immediate clarification, the party urged INEC to either confirm or deny the authenticity of the memo and, if genuine, to abandon the proposed exercise altogether. It stressed that Nigeria’s democracy could not afford last-minute administrative changes that might disrupt the electoral process.
INEC has yet to officially respond to the claims at the time of this report.