Clock ticks on voter registration as INEC issues final appeal

...Insists registration ends today

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a final appeal to eligible Nigerians to register as voters or update their voter information before the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise closes on Saturday.

The electoral body reminded prospective voters that the nationwide exercise, which provides opportunities for fresh registration as well as correction and transfer of voter records, will officially end after Saturday’s deadline.

INEC urged all citizens who are yet to register, replace lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), transfer their registration to new polling locations or correct personal information to take advantage of the remaining hours before the registration window closes.

According to the commission, the Continuous Voter Registration exercise is designed to ensure that all eligible Nigerians are captured in the national voter register ahead of future elections.

The commission stressed that only eligible citizens whose names appear on the official register of voters would be able to participate in elections.

INEC encouraged prospective registrants to visit designated registration centres nationwide to complete the process before the deadline, warning that no further registrations would be accepted once the current exercise closes.

Background

The Continuous Voter Registration exercise is a constitutional and statutory responsibility of INEC aimed at keeping Nigeria’s voter register up to date between election cycles.

The exercise allows Nigerians who have attained the voting age of 18 years to register for the first time, while existing voters can apply for transfer of registration due to relocation, correct personal details, replace lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards, or update records where necessary.

The current registration exercise forms part of INEC’s preparations for upcoming off-cycle elections and the 2027 general elections, as the Commission continues efforts to maintain a credible, inclusive and up-to-date national register of voters.

However, as the deadline draws near, there have been growing calls from civil society organisations, youth groups, political stakeholders and prospective voters for INEC to extend the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.

Advocates of an extension argue that many eligible Nigerians particularly first-time voters, students, those in rural communities and citizens who recently attained the age of 18—have yet to complete their registration due to heavy crowds at registration centres, logistical challenges and limited registration equipment in some locations.

Some stakeholders have urged the electoral commission to keep the exercise open until at least 90 days before the 2027 general elections, contending that such a window would provide more eligible Nigerians with the opportunity to register without compromising INEC’s ability to clean up, verify and display the voter register before polling.

They argue that extending the exercise would deepen voter inclusion, strengthen democratic participation and help reduce the number of eligible citizens disenfranchised by administrative or logistical constraints.

Despite the appeals, INEC has maintained that the current Continuous Voter Registration exercise will close on Saturday as scheduled, urging all eligible Nigerians who have not yet registered or updated their voter information to take advantage of the remaining hours before the deadline.

The Commission reiterated that only citizens whose names appear on the certified register of voters will be eligible to participate in future elections, making timely registration a crucial step in exercising their constitutional right to vote.

The current registration exercise forms part of preparations for upcoming off-cycle elections and the 2027 general elections, as INEC continues efforts to improve the credibility, inclusiveness and integrity of the country’s electoral process.

Political parties, civil society organisations and election observers have repeatedly encouraged eligible Nigerians particularly young people and first-time voters to participate in the exercise, noting that voter registration is the first step in exercising the constitutional right to choose political leaders through the ballot.

With the deadline fast approaching, INEC has urged citizens not to wait until the final hours but to complete their registration or data update promptly to avoid missing the opportunity to be included in the register of voters for future elections.