INEC

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended preparations for its proposed nationwide voter revalidation exercise following mounting concerns from political parties, civil society groups, and regional stakeholders.

In a directive issued to all Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on April 4, 2026, the Commission ordered an immediate halt to all publicity and preparatory activities related to the exercise. The letter, signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony, instructed RECs to await further directives. The Commission also announced that its scheduled April 9 meeting with RECs will now be held virtually via Zoom.

INEC had earlier proposed the revalidation exercise as a measure to clean up the voter register by removing ineligible entries, including deceased persons, duplicate registrations, and relocated voters, with the aim of enhancing the credibility of future elections.

However, the proposal was met with swift opposition.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) labeled the exercise a “recipe for chaos,” warning that it could disenfranchise millions of Nigerians less than 10 months before the general elections. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, argued that requiring already registered voters to revalidate their details so close to the polls could suppress turnout and deepen voter apathy.

Similarly, a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki described the timing as “suspicious,” suggesting it could be used to illegally prune the voter rolls.

In the north, a group identifying as Concerned Former Legislators raised alarm that the exercise could reduce the region’s voting strength ahead of the 2027 elections. The group called on northern leaders, including the Arewa Consultative Forum, to intervene and ensure fairness.

Political analysts acknowledged the merit of updating the voter register but warned that the reportedly proposed three-week timeline was grossly inadequate for a country with over 90 million registered voters. They stressed that any such exercise must be inclusive and accessible, particularly for citizens in remote areas.

INEC has defended the original intent of the exercise. Its Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, maintained that the goal was to produce a more credible voter register and strengthen, not restrict, electoral participation.

As of press time, the Commission has not announced a new timeline for the exercise or indicated whether it will be scrapped entirely.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a mandatory revalidation exercise for every Nigerian who obtained a Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) between 2011 and 2024.

Contrary to widespread assumptions, this process is not a fresh voter registration but a verification and update exercise.

The revalidation can be completed online via the official INEC portal: https://cvr.inecnigeria.org

Steps for online revalidation:

1. Create an account using your personal details.

2. Enter the Voter Identification Number (VIN) printed on your PVC.

3. The system will direct you on where to upload a recent photograph.

4. INEC’s system will process your data to confirm that you are the legitimate owner of the card.

5. Upon successful verification, you will receive a confirmation message.

For physical revalidation:

Visit the nearest INEC center with your PVC. Officials will capture your details and take a fresh photograph. A confirmation message will then be sent to your registered phone number or email.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned the African Democratic Congress (ADC) against proceeding with its planned congress and convention in violation of a subsisting court order.

The commission warned that any action taken in disregard of the court directive could attract serious legal consequences, including possible disqualification from future elections.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), made this known during an interview on Arise News on Friday. He stated that the commission is already involved in the legal dispute affecting the party, as it has been joined as a defendant in the case.

“As far as we are concerned, INEC is a party in the case and INEC was sued as a defendant by a member of the ADC.

“Secondly, the court is very clear that parties, including David Mark himself, should refrain from doing anything that will fuel the situation of inter-complaints in the court.”

He stressed that the party must consider the implications of its decision in relation to the existing court ruling.

“If they are going ahead with their congress, with their convention, it is left for them to look at it, whether it is in contravention of the Court of Appeal.

“INEC did not just take a decision. We didn’t just wake up one day and take the decision. There was something that led to it.

“There was an order of court not to do anything or take any step that would render any proceeding in court negatory, and also put the trial court in a situation of helplessness of inter-complainants.”

Amupitan explained that the matter of the congress and convention is already before the court. He warned that taking steps before the court reaches a decision could affect the judicial process.

“So, if already they asked not to do any congress and convention, it is a relief that is being claimed, essentially the file in motion for that purpose which has not been determined,” he said.

He also referred to past cases in Zamfara and Plateau states, where political parties suffered setbacks after failing to obey court orders.

“If they decide to go ahead with their congress and convention, let me tell you what happened in Zamfara,” he said.

“It has happened in the past, and we don’t want to conduct an election without this early warning, and at the end of the day, after you have won, the court will again declare your election invalid.

“The implication is that the person with the second highest number of votes will be declared a winner. It happened in Plateau State during the last election where the question of primaries was an issue.

“Congresses were not held in some parts of Plateau state. The court said, go and do those primaries.

“Unfortunately, they did not obey the court order. Failure to obey the court order has consequences.”

The INEC chairman added that while the ADC is free to make its own decisions, the commission will not take any step that could violate a court order or interfere with the case.

“They are at liberty to do whatever they want to do but INEC will not want to go into a situation where there is an order of don’t do anything, don’t take any step,” he said.

“The judgment is very definite. If I proceed to monitor their convention, it means I’m taking steps that will affect the subject matter pending before the court.”

Earlier in the week, INEC announced that it had suspended recognition of the faction of the ADC led by former Senate President, Senator David Mark, based on a court ruling. The commission also removed the names of the party’s leaders from its portal and replaced them with the note, “By court order.”

In response, the ADC called for the immediate resignation of the INEC chairman. The party accused the commission of bias and alleged that it was undermining Nigeria’s democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking in Abuja, Senator David Mark criticised the decision to withdraw recognition from the party’s leadership. He said the ADC no longer has confidence in the commission.

He insisted that the party would continue its internal activities in line with the law. He also called on the international community to monitor developments within Nigeria’s electoral system, warning that recent actions by INEC could threaten democratic stability.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has demanded the immediate removal of Joash Amupitan, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing him of deliberately misinterpreting a court order related to the party’s leadership dispute.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, David Mark, national chairman of the ADC, said the electoral body “can no longer be trusted,” describing its actions as unlawful and partisan.

Mark explained that the controversy arose after a March 12 Court of Appeal judgment directed all parties, including INEC, to maintain the status quo while the case continued in the Federal High Court.

He added that his legal team challenged the Federal High Court’s jurisdiction, but the appeal was dismissed, leaving the directive to preserve the existing ADC leadership intact.

“After the judgment, lawyers associated with Nafiu Bala sought recognition from INEC in a manner that distorts the meaning of status quo ante bellum,” Mark said, claiming that these actions were supported by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which he accused of attempting to weaken opposition parties.

“It is not the ADC that is under attack. This is a direct assault on Nigeria’s democracy and the right of Nigerians to choose, participate, and exercise their rights as free citizens,” he added.

Mark further said, “We have witnessed how the APC-led Federal Government has undermined, compromised, and coerced other opposition political parties. The ADC has risen as the last bastion between Nigeria’s democracy and full-blown dictatorship. And this is what worries them.”

He expressed shock at INEC’s April 1 announcement withdrawing recognition for both his leadership and Bala’s faction, creating what he described as a “false equivalence” between the parties.

Mark insisted that Bala had already resigned from party leadership and could not be legally recognised as a factional leader.

“The crux of the matter is the interpretation of status quo ante bellum. There is no legal precedent that supports INEC’s conclusion,” he said, criticizing the commission for failing to seek judicial clarification and accusing it of bias.

He added that INEC has effectively left the ADC without a recognised leadership, noting that the commission “lacks the constitutional authority to determine or impose leadership on political parties.”

“At no time was the ADC without a duly constituted leadership. INEC has invented a status quo that never existed,” Mark said.

“The commission cannot decide who leads a political party. That power does not belong to INEC.”

He concluded that the electoral body’s actions amount to contempt of court and undermine the rule of law. “There is only one conclusion: the electoral umpire has taken sides. It can no longer be trusted,” Mark said.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on political parties in Osun State to promptly notify the commission of any concerns or irregularities observed during the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mutiu Agboke, said the move would enable the commission to take appropriate action where necessary.

Agboke spoke with journalists on Monday during an inspection tour of registration centres across the state. He led a team of INEC officials to assess the conduct of the exercise and engage with party representatives at the various locations visited.

The monitoring exercise covered centres such as Ilare Methodist Primary School in Ward 7, Obokun Local Government Area; Saint Andrew Primary School in Ada 1 Ward 7, Boripe Local Government Area; and Holy Michael Primary School in Olonde, Ikirun, Ward 8, Ifelodun Local Government Area.

He explained that the visit was designed to confirm that the registration process was orderly and transparent. He added that the commission needed direct feedback from its staff and party agents involved in the exercise.

“Many people are not aware that the registration exercise has been moved to the Registration Area level, and we must monitor what our staff are doing there,” he said.

Agboke noted that it was important for the commission to observe activities on the ground rather than rely solely on reports.

“There may be issues that we are not aware of and that may not be brought to my attention. That is why we decided not to remain in the office but to come to the field and hear directly from the party agents.

“When we come out like this, they will see that we are following up on what our staff are doing. The essence is simply monitoring, nothing more, nothing less,” he stated.

On political campaigns, the REC described them as internal matters of the parties. He, however, said INEC would continue to keep track of developments to ensure compliance with electoral rules.

“Campaigns are internal arrangements of the political parties. We may monitor them, but for now there has not been any formal invitation to us. However, we are tracking the activities of the parties and will carry out oversight where necessary,” he said.

Agboke also addressed the timeline for the voter registration exercise. He disclosed that the process is expected to continue until close to the election period, after which it will be paused to allow for the production of Permanent Voter Cards.

“The totality of the exercise may run until around August, but before the election in Osun the registration will stop so that all cards can be printed and distributed to voters,” he explained.

At the centres visited, representatives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Accord Party were present. Security personnel were also on ground to maintain order throughout the exercise.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed a viral graphic circulating on social media that claims the electoral body fixed March 26 as the deadline for government officials seeking elective office to resign.

The commission described the message as false and misleading. It said the information did not come from INEC.

INEC clarified its position in a statement issued on Friday through its official X account. The commission warned the public against relying on the circulating graphic.

According to the statement, the message has no connection with the electoral body and should not be taken as authentic information.

INEC advised the public, media organisations, and political actors to ignore the message completely.

The commission also explained that it releases official information only through verified communication channels. These include its official website at inecnigeria.org, its verified social media accounts, and official press statements.

INEC urged Nigerians to confirm election-related updates through these platforms before sharing them with others.

The electoral body added that the spread of unverified content can create confusion among citizens.

It restated its commitment to providing the public with clear and reliable information about electoral matters.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced January 16, 2027, as the new date for Nigeria’s presidential and National Assembly elections. The commission also set February 6, 2027, for governorship and state houses of assembly polls.

The electoral body had earlier scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections were to hold on March 6, 2027. However, the timetable was adjusted after the repeal of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the introduction of the Electoral Act, 2026.

The development marks a significant shift in the country’s electoral calendar, as preparations are expected to align with the revised legal framework. More details are expected to follow.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The All Progressives Congress has claimed three of the six chairmanship seats in the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections, while the Peoples Democratic Party took Gwagwalada, according to results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

In AMAC, the incumbent chairman, Christopher Maikalangu of the APC, polled 40,295 votes, defeating his closest rival from the African Democratic Congress, who scored 12,109 votes. The PDP candidate trailed with 3,398 votes.

In Bwari, APC candidate Joshua Ishaku won the chairmanship with 18,466 votes, while the ADC candidate came second with 4,254 votes. The Zenith Labour Party candidate received 3,515 votes.

The ruling party also prevailed in Kwali, where Daniel Nuhu of the APC scored 17,032 votes, defeating the PDP candidate, Haruna Pai, who garnered 8,575 votes.

The PDP secured a major win in Gwagwalada, where Mohammed Kasim defeated his APC rival, Yahaya Shehu, with 22,165 votes to Shehu’s 17,788. Other parties in the race included the Social Democratic Party with 432 votes, the New Nigeria Peoples Party with 175 votes, and the Young Progressives Party with 158 votes. Several smaller parties received minimal support.

INEC Returning Officer, Philip Akpen, described the Gwagwalada election as peaceful and orderly, noting that voting and collation proceeded without major disruptions. Out of 207,577 registered voters, 46,294 were accredited, with 43,960 valid votes and 1,521 rejected ballots.

The results sheets were signed by party agents, including those of APC, PDP, ADC, APGA, YPP, and NNPP. INEC is yet to announce results for the remaining two FCT Area Councils as collation continues.

The elections were closely watched amid a keen contest between the APC and PDP, while smaller parties struggled to gain traction in most declared councils.

By Kamal Alkasim

The PDP candidate’s manifesto during his campaign focused on community welfare, women’s empowerment, improved healthcare services, and enhanced education opportunities for children.

The Premium Times reported that the PDP defeated its contender from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yahaya Shehu, who scored 17,788 votes.

Declaring Mr Kasim as the winner, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, Philip Akpen, said the election was peaceful and smooth.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mohammed Kasim, has won the Gwagwalada Area Council chairmanship in the local government elections held across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Sunday.

Mr Kashim polled 22,165 votes to defeat his rivals in the election.

Mr Kasim’s manifesto during his campaign focused on community welfare, women’s empowerment, improved healthcare services, and enhanced education opportunities for children.

The elections were in two categories: the chairmanship and the councillorship.

PDP pulled through in the election at a time it is facing its most devastating crisis, which has led to division in its national leadership and loss of governors and lawmakers elected on its platform to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its top figures, such as the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Although the outcome of the local election does not necessarily mirror the PDP’s popularity at the national level, it is a significant victory for the party in a section of Nigeria’s capital, reflecting the country’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious composition.

It may also point to the fact that APC’s enhanced dominance, driven by high-profile defections from opposition parties to its fold in the last year, may not have taken strong hold in many local areas of the country.

INEC conducted the local elections across the six council areas of the FCT, including Gwagwalada, on Saturday. The rest are the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abaji, Kwali, Abaji and Kuje.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has issued a strong warning against vote buying ahead of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections set for February 21.

He spoke on Wednesday in Abuja during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened to review the commission’s readiness for the exercise. He assured participants that INEC remains committed to delivering a peaceful, transparent, and credible election.

Amupitan disclosed that over 1.6 million registered voters are expected to take part in the polls. Voting will take place across 2,822 polling units. A total of 570 candidates will contest for 68 elective offices spread across the six area councils.

He explained that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will be used in all polling units. Election results will also be transmitted instantly to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal to strengthen transparency.

The INEC chairman added that 89 observer groups have received accreditation to monitor the process. About 700 journalists will also cover the election. He said several security agencies will be deployed to maintain order.

He noted in particular that personnel from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) will be present to prevent vote trading and related offences.

“Any individual found buying or selling votes will be apprehended and dealt with in accordance with the law,” Amupitan said.

“Vote trading undermines the sanctity of the ballot and erodes public confidence in democratic institutions. It must not be tolerated.”

On logistics, Amupitan said 1,132 vehicles, 620 motorcycles, and 14 boats have been arranged for the movement of officials and election materials. He stressed that operational failures must not occur on election day.

He stated that polling units are scheduled to open at 8:30 am. This decision followed consultations with transport unions to ensure early delivery of materials.

The INEC chairman also reaffirmed the commission’s neutrality.

“INEC does not have a political party and does not have a preferred candidate. Our mandate is clear: to provide the enabling environment for residents of the Federal Capital Territory to freely choose their representatives,” he said.

Amupitan urged political parties, candidates, and supporters to maintain peace before and during the election. He also called on security agencies to act professionally and remain impartial throughout the process.