ADC has demanded clarification from INEC over alleged nationwide voter revalidation plan.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to clarify reports suggesting a planned nationwide voter revalidation exercise, warning that such a move could disrupt the electoral process ahead of the next general elections.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the opposition party described the alleged plan as a potential “recipe for chaos” if implemented less than a year before Nigerians head to the polls.
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The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the ADC had received reports of a leaked memo indicating that INEC might require already registered voters to revalidate their registration 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 asking millions of Nigerians to repeat parts of the voter registration process so close to the elections could discourage citizens from participating in the democratic process.
“To now require them to return and ‘revalidate’ their registration is, in effect, to ask them not to bother at all,” he stated.
The party also expressed concern about citizens who may not be able to travel to designated centres for the proposed exercise, questioning whether such voters would risk losing their right to vote.
“Are they to lose their right to vote simply because they cannot make it back within a narrow window?” Abdullahi asked.
According to the ADC, introducing such a policy could worsen voter apathy and significantly 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 said.
The party further cautioned the electoral body against actions that could create perceptions of bias in favour of the ruling party. Abdullahi noted that confusion arising from such a process could lead to accusations that INEC was indirectly aiding electoral manipulation.
“No matter its stated intentions, INEC must be careful not to lend itself to accusations of helping the ruling party rig the elections before the votes are even cast,” he said.
The ADC also questioned why an exercise of such magnitude would be communicated through a leaked memo reportedly circulated just days before the proposed commencement.
“For an exercise of this magnitude, Nigerians deserve transparency, not ambiguity,” the party stated.
The opposition party urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to abandon the alleged plan and reassure citizens of its commitment to a transparent, 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 statement added.
