The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that more than 1.3 million Nigerians have completed their online pre-registration for voter cards in the first week of the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
According to a statement released on Monday, the online process, which began on August 18, 2025, recorded 1,379,342 applications as of Sunday, August 24. The exercise will run until August 30, 2026.
INEC’s breakdown showed that 661,846 registrants (47.96%) are male, while 717,856 (52.04%) are female. Young people aged 18 to 34 accounted for the majority with 860,286 entries (62.37%). Students made up 374,534 of registrants (27.15%), while 27,089 persons with disabilities (1.96%) also participated.
“Full details have been published on our website and other official platforms for public information,” the Commission stated.
Meanwhile, physical registration commenced on Monday across INEC’s 811 state and local government offices nationwide. This provides opportunities for citizens who prefer in-person registration or need to complete an online application.
The Commission reminded Nigerians that the CVR is only open to citizens aged 18 and above who have not previously registered. It warned that double or multiple registrations remain an offence but clarified that voters may transfer their registration or apply for replacement of lost or damaged cards.
INEC also announced a restriction of movement from 12 a.m. to 6 p.m. on election day and appealed to eligible citizens not to delay registration until the final days, noting that past experiences showed last-minute rushes often led to congestion and calls for extensions.
With both online and in-person platforms now running, INEC expressed confidence that the CVR would enhance voter access and participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
