Combining the manpower requirements and logistical demands of voter revalidation with the painstaking and laborious process of voter registration and voter card collection by eligible voters would only create a chaotic, shambolic and nightmarish experience for everyone which would not only hamper preparations for the general elections but also affect the outcome of the polls
Last week, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that it will commence voter register revalidation on April 13. This sparked an uproar on social media with many questioning why such an exercise would be held a few months before the elections.
The announcement was contained in a letter signed by Rose Oriaran-Anthony, secretary to the commission. In the letter, the commission directed all resident electoral commissioners (RECs) to commence necessary preparations for the exercise, including the sourcing of personnel and preparation of INEC voter enrolment devices (IVED).
The timeline of exercise
The timeline shows that the exercise would commence at the LGA level from April 13 to May 2, before moving to the registration area (RA) level from May 5 to May 11, and subsequently to polling units (PUs) from May 13 to May 19.
The exercise will then return to the LGA level for a second phase from May 20 to May 29.
Ahead of the nationwide rollout, the commission held a training-of-trainers (ToT) workshop on March 30 at The Electoral Institute (TEI) to prepare officials for the exercise.
INEC chairman speaks on the exercise
INEC chairman, Joash Amupitan, had claimed the exercise was imperative to address incessant
challenges associated with the national voters’ register, including duplicate registrations, underage registrations, registrations by non-citizens, the inclusion of deceased persons, and incomplete or inaccurate voter records, which collectively undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
He said that although the national register of voters was first compiled ahead of the 2011 general election and has been continuously updated and deployed for successive general, off-cycle and by-elections, its credibility must be routinely and periodically guaranteed to reflect current realities and meet public expectations.
The reasons given by the INEC chairman for the exercise are reasonable and logical. Still, the commission is a body who majority of Nigerians no longer trust or have confidence in owing to its questionable and dubious handling of elections and political parties’ internal governance, hence even its most genuine and sincere efforts to enhance the electoral framework and deepen our democratic process are at best met with indifference and at worst suspicion and doubts.
Days before the announcement of the revalidation exercise, the memo of the revalidation exercise had leaked online and the reaction to it by Nigeria ranged from suspicion to exasperation with many wondering why the commission would start a tedious, cumbersome and onerous process of revalidation of the permanent voter card with just a few months to a general election. Some opined that the exercise was a grand plot by the commission to disenfranchise Nigerians and it is being done at the behest of the All Progressives Congress.
Though there is no strong and irrefutable proof to substantiate this claim, the antecedents and unsavoury record of the commission under the present government somewhat lend credence to these conjectures and conspiracy theories. Also, the time of the exercise raises questions, coming at a time when the commission is coming under intense scrutiny and relentless castigation over its handling of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership tussle. The uncomfortable conclusion that INEC’s recent actions and decisions have led many to reach is that the commission has turned itself into an appendage of the ruling party and is working to create conditions that provide an uncontested, safe and clear pathway to victory for the ruling party.
Even if the commission is serious about cleaning up the voter register, such an exercise should have been done two or even three years before the election. Adding the manpower requirements and logistical demands of voter revalidation to the painstaking process of voter registration and voter card collection by registered voters would only create a chaotic, shambolic and nightmarish experience for everyone which would not only hamper preparations for the general elections but also affect the outcome of the polls.
Suspension of exercise
On Saturday, INEC announced that the exercise had been suspended. In a notice, it directed all resident electoral commissioners (RECs) to suspend publicity and arrangements for the planned voter revalidation exercise.
“RECs are also directed to step down all publicity and arrangements for the voter revalidation exercise and await further directives from the commission,” the notice added.
The suspension of the exercise may not be unconnected to the uproar and vehement opposition to the revalidation exercise. Prof Amupitan had, during an interview with Arise news where he cleared the air on the derecognition of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as the national chairman and national secretary of the ADC, a move which he was greeted by outrage, expressed concern over the heavy criticism of the commission and the strong pushback by Nigerians against the exercise.
