By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
COUNTRYWIDE CONTINUOS voter registration began with online pre-registration on Monday 18 August 2025, recording 69,376 entries within the first seven hours.
According to figures released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the portal went live at 8.30am and by 3.30pm the same day, registrations had reached tens of thousands.
Of the total recorded, 33,803 (48.7%) were male while 35,573 (51.3%) were female.
INEC noted that 48,033 registrants, representing 69.2 per cent, were young persons aged between 18 and 34 years.
The Commission confirmed that the registration portal remains active round the clock, seven days a week, at https://cvr.inecnigeria.org.
Citizens are able to access the platform to pre-register ahead of in-person verification or to complete registration processes as required.
In a statement, INEC disclosed that arrangements for the physical registration option will commence on Monday 25 August 2025 at its 811 State and Local Government Area offices nationwide.
The exercise will run between 9.00am and 3.00pm on weekdays, Mondays to Fridays.
The Commission emphasised that this would serve both fresh applicants and those who had completed online pre-registration but are required to finalise their details physically.
INEC further clarified that both options will continue simultaneously throughout the registration exercise, in line with the timetable previously released.
Beginning next week, INEC will provide weekly updates on the continuous voter registration exercise, including state-by-state breakdowns of registrants by gender, age, occupation and disability status.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the exercise.
INEC also reminded the public that voter registration is strictly for Nigerian citizens who are at least 18 years of age and who have not previously registered.
It stressed that double or multiple registrations are against the law and will not be tolerated.
However, the Commission confirmed that transfers of registration within states, across states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as the replacement of lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), are permissible within the exercise.
The Commission encouraged eligible Nigerians to take advantage of the ongoing process, noting that the simultaneous online and in-person options were designed to make the registration more accessible to citizens across the country.
Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, confirmed the developments in a statement issued on Monday 18 August 2025.
