The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will commence a nationwide voter revalidation exercise on April 13, 2026, as part of efforts to clean up Nigeria’s voter register and safeguard electoral integrity.
INEC disclosed this in a public notice shared on its official handle on X on Friday, stating that the exercise is aimed at removing “null and ineligible voters, such as deceased, non-Nigerians, underage, and multiple registrations, in accordance with the provisions of the law.”
According to the commission, the revalidation exercise will run in phases across different locations nationwide. It will begin at Local Government Areas (LGAs) from April 13 to May 2 for 20 days, followed by Registration Areas (RAs) from May 5 to May 11 for 7 days. The process will then move to polling units from May 13 to May 19 for another 7 days, before returning to LGAs from May 20 to May 29 for 10 days.
INEC emphasised that the exercise “is not a fresh registration,” but specifically targets voters who registered between 2011 and 2024.
“It is for those who registered between 2011 up to 2024,” the commission stated.
The electoral body added that the exercise forms part of broader efforts to “revise, update, clean and strengthen the integrity, accuracy, inclusivity, and credibility of the national register of voters ahead of future elections.”
INEC noted that the revalidation process will be conducted both online and physically at designated centres nationwide.
For online participation, eligible voters are required to visit the commission’s portal, create an account, and provide their Voter Identification Number (VIN) or personal details. The system will then conduct biometric verification using facial recognition technology, after which the data will be checked against the central voter database.
“The voter proceeds to revalidate,” INEC stated, adding that “a slip is generated and a notification message is sent to the voter for successful revalidation.”
For physical verification, voters are expected to visit designated INEC centres, where officials will conduct biometric verification and confirm details against the central database.
“The officer in charge conducts biometric verification using facial image,” the commission said, adding that “any information that requires correction can be updated.”
INEC further explained that “a slip/printout will be issued to the voter on completion of the process,” while “message is sent to email or phone number if available.”
The commission warned that failure to participate in the exercise could affect voter eligibility, urging Nigerians not to delay.
“The revalidation exercise will be conducted both Online and at Physical Centers,” INEC stated.
The exercise will run daily from 9:00am to 3:00pm, including weekends and public holidays, as the commission seeks to ensure broad participation and accuracy of the voter register ahead of future elections.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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