ADC Urges INEC to Clarify Alleged Voter Revalidation Plan

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to clarify reports of a planned nationwide voter revalidation exercise, warning that such a move could disrupt the electoral process.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the party described the alleged plan as a potential source of confusion if implemented less than a year before the next general elections.

The ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party received reports of a leaked memo suggesting that INEC may require already registered voters to revalidate their details.

“We call on INEC to immediately confirm to Nigerians whether this memo is genuine,” Abdullahi said, adding that “if true, the plan must be rejected outright as a recipe for chaos.”

He warned that requiring millions of Nigerians to repeat part of the voter registration process close to elections could discourage participation.

“To now require them to return and ‘revalidate’ their registration is, in effect, to ask them not to bother at all,” he said.

The party also raised concerns about voters who may not be able to travel to designated centres for the exercise.

“Are they to lose their right to vote simply because they cannot make it back within a narrow window?” Abdullahi queried.

According to the ADC, such a policy could worsen voter apathy and reduce turnout, potentially affecting the credibility of the elections.

“At a time when voter apathy is already a major challenge, any policy that adds new barriers to participation will only suppress turnout further,” the statement added.

The party further cautioned INEC against actions that could create perceptions of bias, warning that confusion arising from the process could be exploited politically.

“For an exercise of this magnitude, Nigerians deserve transparency, not ambiguity,” the statement said.

The ADC urged INEC to abandon the alleged plan and reassure citizens of its commitment to 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 party stated.