ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Independent National Electoral Commission has extended the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration exercise by two more weeks and introduced an online self-service registration platform for eligible first-time voters.
The electoral commission disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.
INEC said the decision was reached after reviewing the progress of the exercise and considering feedback from its state offices, political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.
The nationwide CVR exercise began on August 18, 2025, and was originally scheduled to conclude on July 10, 2026. It is expected to be the last major voter registration exercise before the 2027 general elections.
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Following the extension, the exercise will now run until Friday, July 24, 2026, giving more eligible Nigerians the opportunity to register ahead of future elections.
“The extension underscores the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that every eligible Nigerian has a fair and reasonable opportunity to be included in the Register of Voters,” the statement said.
The commission also announced the introduction of an online self-service portal that will enable eligible Nigerians to begin and complete their voter registration process, including biometric capture, using their personal devices without the need to visit any INEC office physically.
It added that a step-by-step guide would be provided on the portal to assist users throughout the registration process.
According to INEC, the platform has “robust identity verification, biometric validation, and backend integrity checks designed to preserve the credibility and accuracy of the National Register of Voters.”
The electoral body encouraged all eligible Nigerians who have not yet registered to make use of both the extended registration period and the newly introduced online registration option.
“The commission remains committed to a credible, inclusive and accessible voter registration process, and to advancing the use of technology to improve citizens’ experience in the electoral process,” the statement stated.