INEC Chairman Prof Joash Amupitan has defended the commission's decision to revalidate voter cards ahead of the 2027 general elections. He stated that the current voter register shows about 93 million voters, a figure he described as inaccurate. The revalidation exercise was formalised in an internal memo dated 2 April, signed by Secretary to the Commission Rose Oriaran-Anthony and sent to all resident electoral commissioners. Amupitan clarified that the decision predates his appointment as chairman. He stressed that the accuracy of the voter register is a key benchmark for assessing electoral credibility locally and internationally. Low voter turnout, he noted, is partly linked to public perception of an inflated register.
A register bloated to 93 million when the actual number is lower undermines trust long before votes are cast. Amupitan admitting the figure is flawed confirms what critics have long argued about INEC's data integrity. If the revalidation is thorough and transparent, it could restore some confidence in the electoral process. But if handled poorly, it risks creating more confusion than clarity in the lead-up to 2027.
