The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will begin the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) across the country on August 18, 2025, as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
This announcement was made by the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Benue State, Professor Sam Egwu, during a press briefing in Makurdi. He explained that the exercise is in line with Nigeria’s constitutional mandate to include eligible citizens who have turned 18 years and above since the last election in 2023, and those who were previously unable to register for various reasons.
Prof. Egwu noted that the nationwide exercise will take place across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It will begin with an online pre-registration phase on the INEC website starting from August 18, 2025. This will be followed by in-person registration at INEC Area Offices and other designated centres from August 25, 2025, between the hours of 9am and 3pm, Monday through Friday.
He stated that the CVR is an essential step to ensure that Nigerians who recently became eligible can fully participate in the 2027 elections. According to him, the registration is not only for new voters but also for those who were unable to register previously due to being out of the country, incarcerated, or simply not interested at the time.
The INEC official added that the voter registration will also address various voter data issues, including:
Replacement of lost or damaged voter cards
Correction of personal details on the PVC
Transfer of voter registration from one ward, polling unit, or state to another
He strongly warned that no one should pay any money or offer gratification to be registered. According to Prof. Egwu, the exercise is completely free of charge, and any act of demanding money or favours for registration should be reported immediately to the authorities.
He advised the general public, especially young Nigerians who have just reached the voting age, to take advantage of the early days of registration to avoid the last-minute rush, which often leads to long queues, technical issues, and delays.
The REC also assured that INEC has put in place special provisions for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to ensure they are not left out of the democratic process. He said that mobile registration centres and tailored arrangements would be created to serve these citizens effectively.
He stressed that while the starting date for the registration exercise is now fixed, INEC will soon announce a closing date for this phase of the CVR. This will allow the Commission to pause the exercise, clean up and harvest the collected data in preparation for voter roll updates and logistics for the upcoming elections.
This CVR exercise is coming at a time when many Nigerians are calling for electoral reform, inclusiveness, and wider participation in the democratic process. By providing both online and physical options, INEC aims to simplify voter registration and reduce the barriers that often prevent eligible citizens from being part of Nigeria’s electoral process.
With the next general election set for 2027, INEC’s early start to the registration process is seen as a proactive move to ensure a more transparent, credible, and inclusive election. Nigerians are therefore urged to participate actively, monitor the process, and report any irregularities or misconduct during the exercise.
