INEC Goes Grassroots, Expands Voter Registration to Ward Level in FCT
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rolled out a new phase of voter registration in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), extending the exercise beyond its headquarters and area council offices to reach all electoral wards.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, the electoral body confirmed that registration centres will now be available in all 62 wards across the territory, bringing the total number of centres to 69.
The expanded registration will open on Monday, September 29, 2025, and close on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. INEC explained that the move mirrors previous strategies adopted before governorship polls in Edo, Ondo, and Anambra states.
As part of the adjustment, online pre-registration in the FCT will be discontinued on September 15, 2025, to allow individuals who started the process digitally to complete it in person.
The commission stressed that digital applications alone will not count without biometric capture at designated locations.
Citing the Electoral Act 2022, INEC noted that registration must end 90 days before any election, which means the exercise in the FCT will conclude on October 8 ahead of the Area Council elections scheduled for February 21, 2026.
The commission further stated that registration would resume after the polls and continue nationwide until August 2026, when the process will once again be halted in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
INEC urged residents of the capital territory who are yet to be on the voter roll to seize the opportunity, emphasizing that those wishing to transfer their details within the FCT or from other states may also do so.
However, it warned against multiple registrations, describing it as a criminal offence under Nigerian law.
A full list of the 69 registration points has been published on the commission’s official website and social media channels.
“The public is advised to mark the dates, locate their nearest ward centre, and participate actively before the deadline,” the statement concluded.
