The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned political parties in Ekiti State, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), against mobilising underage persons for the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ekiti State, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, delivered the warning during a stakeholders’ meeting held on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti. He emphasized that anyone caught attempting to register ineligible or underage individuals—or those who aid such actions—would be arrested and prosecuted.
“Let me reiterate that those not eligible, especially those under 18, should not be mobilised by political parties for the CVR exercise,” Omoseyindemi said. “Anyone caught presenting fake documents will be arrested. Security agencies have been briefed and will be involved.”
The electoral body announced that the online phase of the CVR will begin on August 18, 2025, while in-person registration will commence a week later on August 25, 2025. The registration will be conducted across INEC offices in the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State and designated centres, with technology deployed to enhance transparency and compliance.
The REC noted that the exercise is open to newly eligible voters who have turned 18, those seeking to replace lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and voters requesting data corrections or transfers.
“The CVR exercise is critical to deepening our democracy. It allows eligible citizens to be captured in the National Register of Voters and to update their information as needed,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Oluwakemi Akomolede, pledged intensified public enlightenment campaigns to boost participation and awareness.
“We are committed to sensitising the public on the importance of the CVR as a pathway to increased electoral participation,” Akomolede stated.
Meanwhile, Ekiti APC Chairman Sola Elesin commended INEC’s preparations, saying the party had activated internal structures to mobilise eligible members ahead of the June 20, 2026 governorship election.
