By Nkechi Eze
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that a total of 1,379,342 Nigerians successfully pre-registered online within the first week of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which commenced on Monday, 18th August 2025.
In a statement issued on Sunday, 24th August 2025, and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, INEC described the turnout as a remarkable indication of citizens’ readiness to participate in the democratic process.
According to the detailed breakdown provided by the Commission, 661,846 registrants, representing 47.96 percent, are male, while 717,856, accounting for 52.04 percent, are female. Young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 34 formed the bulk of the registrants with 860,286 entries, representing 62.37 percent.
Occupational data showed that students accounted for 374,534 of the registrants, representing 27.15 percent, while persons with disabilities stood at 27,089, making up 1.96 percent of the total pre-registrations recorded so far. The Commission noted that the full statistical details of the registration exercise have been published on its website and other official platforms for public access.
Meanwhile, INEC confirmed that the in-person registration phase has officially commenced today across its 811 State and Local Government offices nationwide. This phase provides an opportunity for those who prefer physical registration to participate, while also enabling those who began their registration online to complete the process at the designated centres.
Reiterating the guidelines for the exercise, Olumekun stressed that voter registration is strictly open to Nigerian citizens who are 18 years and above and who are yet to be registered. He warned against double or multiple registration, which he said constitutes a violation of the law. However, he clarified that inter-State and intra-State transfers of voter registration, as well as the replacement of lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), are permissible under the CVR process.
The Commission further disclosed that the nationwide registration exercise will run for one year, concluding on 30th August 2026. It, however, appealed to eligible Nigerians to take advantage of the early window and avoid the last-minute rush that typically characterises voter registration.
“From past experience, registration centres are often inundated by eleventh-hour registrants amidst appeals for extension of time. We urge all intending registrants to seize the opportunity now, rather than wait until the deadline approaches,” the statement read.
With the strong initial turnout and the simultaneous commencement of in-person registration, INEC expressed optimism that the process would significantly boost the voter register ahead of the next general elections.
