The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said over 1.3 million Nigerians have completed their online pre-registration for voter cards in the first week of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).
The Commission, in a statement, said 1,379,342 applications were received as of Sunday, August 24. The online registration started on August 18 and will run until August 30, 2026.
INEC described the figure as “an encouraging start” to the exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A gender breakdown of the data shows that 661,846 applicants (47.96 per cent) are male, while 717,856 (52.04 per cent) are female. Youths between 18 and 34 years accounted for the majority with 860,286 entries, representing 62.37 per cent.
On occupation, 374,534 applicants (27.15 per cent) are students, while 27,089 persons with disabilities (1.96 per cent) also took part.
The Commission said: “Full details have been published on our website and other official platforms for public information.”
Meanwhile, physical registration began yesterday across INEC’s 811 state and local government offices nationwide. This is to cater for those who prefer in-person registration and those who started online but need to complete the process.
INEC reminded Nigerians that the CVR is strictly for citizens who are at least 18 years old and have never registered before. It warned that double or multiple registrations remain a criminal offence.
The Commission explained that voters may also transfer their registration, or apply for replacement of lost or damaged voter cards during the exercise.
It appealed to eligible Nigerians not to delay registration, saying: “From experience, the registration centres are inundated by eleventh-hour registrants amidst appeals for extension of time.”
