IPAC warns INEC: Voter revalidation timing risks disenfranchising millions
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has issued a sharp rebuke of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warning that the timing of its proposed Nationwide Voter Revalidation Exercise threatens to disenfranchise millions of eligible voters. In a statement dated April 2, 2026, signed by National Publicity Secretary Comrade Egbeola Wale Martins, IPAC acknowledges that updating the voter register is essential but argues that launching this exercise now—while political parties are already struggling with obligations under the new Electoral Act, including mandatory NIN verification for membership registration—creates an unreasonable burden that excludes rather than includes citizens. Exact timeline for the revalidation exercise remains unspecified.
IPAC also criticized INEC's handling of the leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), specifically the reported removal of former Senate President Distinguished Senator David Mark and former Minister Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from INEC's portal. The council calls this action "premature" and warns it could create "avoidable instability" and undermine confidence in INEC's neutrality, noting that internal party disputes do not create leadership vacancies that justify INEC intervention.
On security, IPAC condemned the ongoing killings in Plateau State, particularly a recent massacre in Jos, calling it "unacceptable" and a threat to national unity. The council demands urgent action from security agencies to apprehend perpetrators and sponsors, stating that Nigeria's democracy depends on citizens feeling safe. Specific casualty figures were not provided.
As Nigeria approaches the 2027 elections, will you pressure INEC to prioritize electoral access over perfect voter roll accuracy, or accept that some disenfranchisement is acceptable if it prevents fraud? How should parties balance internal democracy with INEC regulatory authority when disputes arise?