Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
ABUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a two-week extension to the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, citing feedback from state offices, political parties, and civil society organisations.
The exercise, which commenced on 18 August 2025, was originally scheduled to conclude on 10 July 2026. It will now run until Friday, 24 July 2026.
In a statement issued on Friday, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chair of Information and Voter Education, Mohammed Haruna, said 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 ahead of future electoral activities.
Self-Service Portal to Launch
In a significant move towards modernisation, the Commission also announced the introduction of a self-service registration option for first-time voters. The online portal will go live on Wednesday, 8 July 2026, via the dedicated CVR website – cvr.inecnigeria.org – where a step-by-step guide is also available.
According to Mr Haruna, the new system will allow eligible citizens to initiate and complete their voter registration – including biometric capture – on their personal devices, eliminating the need to visit an INEC office in person.
He noted that the platform incorporates robust identity verification, biometric validation, and backend integrity checks designed to preserve the credibility and accuracy of the National Register of Voters.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to a credible, inclusive, and accessible voter registration process, and to advancing the use of technology to improve citizens’ experience in the electoral process.
Mr Haruna urged all eligible Nigerians who have yet to register to take advantage of the extended window and explore the new digital registration option.
