Public affairs analyst Mahdi Shehu has responded to the halt of the proposed voter revalidation initiative by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), taking a jab at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
INEC had previously declared that it would initiate a nationwide voter revalidation initiative on April 13, 2026, as part of measures to refresh the voter registry ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Nonetheless, the commission subsequently instructed Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to halt all promotional activities and arrangements for the initiative.
In response, Shehu commented in a post shared on X on Sunday, portraying the situation as a welcomed reversal, although he criticized the president’s management of public grievances.
“Kudos to you, PBAT, for choosing to concede on the poorly thought-out voter’s card revalidation,” he stated.
He emphasized that the choice indicates the president can heed public sentiment when deemed necessary.
“It seems PBAT is capable of considering public dissent on particular matters, much like his reversal on the poorly conceived voters card revalidation,” Shehu remarked.
However, Shehu charged the president with disregarding other issues presented by Nigerians, including matters concerning appointments, project execution, and expenditures.
“He has neglected numerous other public grievances, such as his uneven public appointments, unbalanced project implementation, disproportionate allocation of foreign and domestic loans, as well as a biased and selective response to crises and disasters,” he elaborated.
Shehu encouraged the president to consistently heed the majority’s sentiments, highlighting that such an attitude is vital for democracy to flourish.
“We hope that whenever the voices of reason, wisdom, and common sense resonate louder than his, he will possess the strength to acknowledge and endorse what the majority expresses. This is the sole method for democracy to prosper and enable Nigeria to succeed,” he articulated.
“Congratulations on recognizing the reality, with or without visual aids.”
Quoting Exodus 18:19, Shehu added, “Listen now to me, and I will offer you counsel, and may God watch over you. You must serve as the people’s representative before God and present their disputes to Him.”
He concluded with a prayer, stating, “May PBAT be well directed by the spirit of truth, particularly in times when deceptive tunes are louder than the voices of reason. Amen. Amen. Amen.”
