INEC to Begin Nationwide Continuous Voter Registration on August 18
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to commence a nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The exercise is scheduled to begin with online pre-registration on August 18, 2025, while the physical registration at INEC offices and designated centers across the country will start on August 25.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this during a briefing, emphasizing the commission’s commitment to expanding electoral participation and ensuring that no eligible Nigerian is left out of the voting process.
According to him, the registration exercise will cover new registrants, citizens who have turned 18 since the last registration, and those who were unable to register in previous cycles.
Yakubu explained that the CVR exercise will also cater to individuals who wish to transfer their registration due to relocation, as well as voters seeking to correct personal details or replace lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). He stressed that the commission will deploy both online and physical registration platforms to make the process as seamless as possible.
The INEC chairman urged eligible Nigerians to take advantage of the early commencement of the registration exercise, warning against the usual last-minute rush that often characterizes the process. He also called on political parties, civil society organizations, and community leaders to help mobilize citizens, especially first-time voters, to register and participate in the electoral process.
In Benue State, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Sam Egwu, provided further details during a stakeholders’ meeting in Makurdi. He confirmed that the physical CVR would run for at least three months, operating weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Egwu clarified that the exercise is free of charge and warned Nigerians against paying any form of fee for registration. He encouraged citizens to report any INEC official or individual demanding money for the process.
The Commission assured the public that Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) would also be accommodated in the registration exercise, ensuring that every eligible Nigerian has the opportunity to vote in the forthcoming elections.
INEC said more information on registration guidelines, locations, and required documentation will be released in due course. Citizens are advised to visit the commission’s official CVR portal at cvr.inecnigeria.org for updates and to begin the online pre-registration process.
The 2027 general elections are expected to be one of Nigeria’s most pivotal polls, and INEC has pledged to ensure that the voter register is credible, comprehensive, and reflective of the nation’s eligible voting population.
