The independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) launched its online pre-registration platform on August 18, 2025, as part of its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) programme
In-person registration will commence on 25 August 2025. Registration will take place at 811 centres across the 774 Local Government and Area Council Offices of the Commission, as well as 36 State Offices and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Both the online pre-registration platform and in-person registration will be available concurrently from August 25, 2025.
It is vital to get it right with the CVR exercise, as the register will be incorporated into the final register for the 2027 general election.
Doing so involves acting correctly and avoiding past errors that cast doubt on the transparency of the voters’ register.
It also assumes that first-time registrants will cooperate with registration officers and behave in a manner compatible with the Commission’s Rules and Regulations for the exercise.
It presumes that the political elite will allow the continuous registration process to proceed smoothly without attempting manipulative tactics to gain undue advantage.
It also entails that Nigerians will not treat the CVR as just another census, where both eligible and ineligible individuals are herded to registration centres to register.
Additionally, it presumes that civil society organisations and groups will conduct sensitisation and awareness campaigns about the various modules available during this period.
Furthermore, it requires registration officers to demonstrate professionalism and courtesy while performing their duties.
What are the key issues and challenges with the CVR? The Commission, as part of its preparations, has activated its portal where the various services available during this period have been uploaded.
Prospective registrants can visit the online platform to find registration centres near them. They can also commence their pre-registration online and complete it at any of the registration centres.
Generally, the CVR is for individuals who have attained 18 years of age and those who have never registered during the nationwide voter registration or any of the CVRs conducted by the Commission.
The integration of other services during this period is for administrative convenience and to enable Nigerians to enter the election with a robust and credible register.
Section 10 of the Electoral Act governs CVR. It states that each applicant for registration under the continuous registration system shall appear in person at the registration venue with any of the following documents—(a) birth certificate; (b) national passport, identity card or driver’s licence; or (c) any other document that will prove the identity, age, and nationality of the applicant.
This means that individuals whose names are on the register cannot register again. We shall return to this and explore some of the challenges of our refusal or inability to adhere to this requirement.
It is important to highlight some of the services the Commission has activated during the CVR. Due to societal dynamics, people relocate for work, business, or other reasons. Civil servants transfer to different locations.
Some business owners move their businesses periodically. Ethnic and religious conflicts displace some people. Currently, issues such as kidnapping, banditry, and other criminal activities also cause people to abandon
It is vital to get it right with the CVR exercise, as the register will be incorporated into the final register for the 2027 General Election
their previous locations. Therefore, if you are a registered voter and wish to change your voting location, you can do so online.
Alternatively, you can visit any of the 811 registration centres to complete the process. This is not a new registration. Suppressing information and registering anew is unnecessary, as it involves extra effort and can cause confusion.
