The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will begin a nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise on August 18, 2025, in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
Professor Sam Egwu, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for Benue State, announced that the process will start with online pre-registration through INEC’s official portal, followed by physical registration at designated centers across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory beginning August 25.
The registration drive aims to capture first-time voters who have attained the voting age of 18 since the 2023 elections, as well as Nigerians who were previously unable to register due to being overseas, incarcerated, or other circumstances.
The exercise will also facilitate replacements for lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), corrections to personal details, and transfers of voting locations. INEC emphasized that registration is free and warned against fraudulent demands for payment. Special provisions will be made to ensure internally displaced persons are not excluded from the process.
While the commission has not yet announced a closing date for the registration, officials urged eligible voters to participate early to avoid last-minute congestion.
The CVR exercise forms part of INEC’s constitutional mandate to maintain an accurate and inclusive voter register ahead of Nigeria’s next general elections in 2027.
