The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says its nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise for the 2025–2026 electoral cycle will officially commence on Monday, August 18, 2025.
The Commission said the CVR will allow eligible Nigerians to register both online and in person, with the aim of expanding voter access ahead of future elections.
In a statement released this week, INEC announced that online pre-registration will begin via its portal, cvr.inecnigeria.org, on August 18. Physical registration at INEC offices and designated centres across the country will commence one week later, on August 25.
The in-person exercise will run from Monday to Friday, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Who Can Register
Professor Sam Egwu, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Benue State, said the exercise will target Nigerians who have turned 18 since the last registration, as well as those who need to replace lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), correct personal information, or transfer their voter records to a new location.
“This is a constitutional exercise. It gives new voters the opportunity to be captured in the voter database, and existing voters can also update their records,” Egwu said.
INEC confirmed that the registration will hold in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), using local government offices, state headquarters, and other approved venues.
Registration in Ondo and Data Pause
In Ondo State, where local preparations are ongoing, officials revealed that out of 2.05 million registered voters, 1.76 million PVCs have been collected, while around 296,000 remain unclaimed.
INEC said the registration exercise will run until August 2026, with a brief suspension in December 2025 to allow for data cleanup and processing. The process will resume in early 2026.
Warning Against Double Registration
INEC warned Nigerians against engaging in multiple or duplicate registrations, describing it as an electoral offence punishable by a fine of ₦100,000 or up to one year in prison.
The Commission also cautioned against bribery and unofficial charges during registration, urging citizens to report any extortion attempts.
“All eligible Nigerians are encouraged to take advantage of this window to register and play their part in strengthening our democracy,” INEC said.
