No fewer than 69,376 Nigerians pre-registered online in the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise which commenced on Monday.
Of this figure, 35,573 (51.3%) are females, while 33,803 (48.7%) are males.
In terms of age demographic, 48,033 (69.2%) are young persons aged 18-34.
INEC national commissioner and chairman, Information & Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, who gave an update on the exercise, said the registration portal went live at 8:30am, and the figure was reached at 3pm.
Olumekun said the commission was set to commence the in-person registration option on Monday, August 25, 2025, at 811 state and local government offices nationwide from 9am to 3pm on weekdays (Monday through Friday) only.
This would enable those who prefer the in-person option to register and for the online pre-registrants to complete their registration, he said, adding that the two options would proceed simultaneously throughout the CVR as indicated in the schedule earlier released by the Commission.
He said: “The portal is available 24 hours every day of the week at https://cvr.inecnigeria.org
“From next week, the Commission will give weekly updates on the CVR, including a detailed breakdown by state, gender, age, occupation and disability.”
Olumekun further reminded Nigerians that voter registration is only open to Nigerian citizens who are at least 18 years old and not registered voters, warning that double or multiple registration is a violation of the law.
“However, inter-state/FCT and intra-state/FCT transfer of voters and the replacement of lost or damaged voter cards are allowed during the CVR,” he added.
The online pre-registration kicked off across various states of the federation on Monday.
In Akwa Ibom, INEC opened the portal for online registration of voters ahead of the general elections in 2027, LEADERSHIP learnt.
The state’s resident electoral commissioner (REC), Obo Effanga, assured of a smooth exercise, saying voter education, sensitisation, and enlightenment had been ongoing for the last week to ensure optimum voter turnout.
A senior official of the Commission, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that the physical exercise will commence on Monday, August 25, across all the 31 local government area offices and the state headquarters along Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo and at Ikot Akpanabia by the State Police Command.
“The portal has been opened, and the online version is ongoing. The physical exercise will commence on Monday, when the voters are expected to make a physical appearance to authenticate their documents”, he explained.
In Rivers State, people up to 18 years old are registering online ahead of the physical capturing that will begin on Monday.
INEC’s spokesperson in the state, Geraldine Ekelemu, told LEADERSHIP that a large number of eligible voters had already registered.
Ekelemu said, “Of course, people are logging in to register. Based on the report we are getting. We are making progress through the online registration.”
In Edo State, the nationwide CVR commenced with online voter registration on Monday.
INEC spokesperson in the state, Toyin Olayiwola, who reported that the exercise commenced smoothly, added that physical registration would begin on August 25, 2025
She urged eligible residents and those who have come of age to take advantage of the ongoing exercise in the state.
Why voter registration is not being held in 4 Borno LGs
Also, INEC confirmed the commencement of the civic exercise in Borno State.
Confirming this to LEADERSHIP on Monday, INEC’s public relations officer in the state, Abba Shettima, said that even though registration is going on online, he could not announce the number of registrants until about three days later, considering Borno State’s peculiarities.
Meanwhile, INEC has moved its voter registration centres from four local governments of Borno State due to the Boko Haram insurgency.
Resident Electrical Commissioner (REC) for Borno, Abubakar Ma’aji, said the exercise began on Monday with online registration and would be held in 23 of the 27 local governments because of security challenges.
“For security and factors relating to safety, four INEC LGA offices will conduct the physical (in-person) registration, which begins on August 25 at locations in Maiduguri Metropolis. The LGAs affected are Abadam, Guzamala, Kala Balge and Marte”, he said.
He said eligible voters must travel to Maiduguri, the state capital, to register at designated centres but added that the commission would not be responsible for their movement.
The four local governments still face insecurity through the activities of Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists.
The Commission in Bauchi confirmed that it started receiving citizens’ online application for Permanent Voter’s Card registration.
Spokesperson of INEC in Bauchi, Aliyu Shaba, described the process as hitch-free.
He gave assurance that physical registration would begin on Monday, and called on young Nigerians who have attended the age of 18 to take advantage of the opportunity to register for voting ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Meanwhile, INEC urged residents of Bayelsa State to use the online voter registration process, stressing that it is simple, convenient, and accessible to everyone with internet access.
Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity (VEP) for INEC in Bayelsa State, Awajionyi Utong, explained that the registration process is fully managed through the Commission’s online portal in Abuja.
According to him, state offices only receive collated data at the end of the exercise.
He explained that the online process allows prospective voters to register from the comfort of their homes using their smartphones or at cyber cafés.
“The registration is not done in our state office; it is completely online. Some people will use their phone to register, while others may go to the cyber café. All you need to do is click on the online portal, and you can complete it from anywhere,” he stated.
Utong further explained that every entry goes directly into the INEC database, broken down by polling units, wards, local government areas, and states.
He advised those who register online to ensure they complete the second stage of the process by physically visiting designated registration centres with their printed slips for data update.
“As you enter your data, it is stored directly into the INEC portal. At the end of the online registration, our Abuja office will collate everything and send it back to the states according to the total number of persons registered in each polling unit across the federation.
“It is important for people to understand that the online registration must be followed by in-person physical registration to finalise their details,” Utong said.
According to him, INEC’s ICT department monitors the daily number of registrations nationwide.
“By the close of the day, our ICT team compiles the figures for each state. Only when I get to the office tomorrow can I confirm how many persons registered today. It is not something I can provide off-hand,” he clarified.
Kwara’s residents participate in CVR
In Kwara State, residents who have just attained the voting age and those who lost their voter’s cards participated yesterday in the online pre-registration exercise component of the continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise.
Two residents, AbdulSalam Oniyere and Idowu Shafi, from Sango ward in the Ilorin East local government area of the state, confirmed to LEADERSHIP that they participated in the exercise.
The spokesperson of INEC in the state, Halilu Ibrahim, expressed optimism that eligible individuals would turn out for the exercise because the commission had ensured adequate publicity for it.
The publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Mr Shola Adewara, said: “Yes we’re fully committed to mobilising our people to key into the process. We will do our best to ensure all PDP members and admirers who are just reaching voting age and those who just relocated to the state partake in this exercise.”
Plateau: Registration ongoing in all 17 LGs
In Plateau state, the INEC resident electoral commissioner, Mohammed Abubakar, stated that the online pre-registration exercise commenced yesterday.
Mohammed added that the physical registration will start on August 25, 2025 at the state office and all 17 local government area offices.
Your Voter Card Is Your Power, Obi Tells Nigerians
As the continuous voter registration commences across Nigeria, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has called on Nigerians to come out in their numbers to participate in the exercise, as their PVC is their power.
Obi, in a statement, said, “Today, I want to plead with every Nigerian, young and old, to heed this call to action.
“The future of our dear nation is in your hands. The greatest strength of democracy is in the voter’s card. Your PVC is the voice of the voiceless, the shield of the weak, and the weapon of the poor for a better life, against injustice and bad leadership.
“I appeal to every Nigerian: get organised and make election rigging difficult. Go out, register, collect your PVC, and hold it firmly as your bridge to a new Nigeria.”
‘Vote buyers are no better than armed robbers, kidnappers’
The former Anambra governor further warned Nigerians against politicians who engage in vote buying, saying their main mission is not to render good governance but to steal from the nation’s purse.
He said, “Let us know this: those who buy votes are not offering you charity; they only invest in their own corruption. They buy votes so that they can buy their way into our treasury to steal public money. When they enter that office, they will loot the funds that should have been used to build schools, hospitals or provide good jobs. Such people are not leaders; they are criminals in disguise. They are no better than killers, armed robbers, and kidnappers, because they commit the same crime of destruction.”
Why your vote counts
Obi further urged Nigerians not to trade their voter cards but to use them wisely due to their transformative power.
“To those who sell their votes, you are not just selling an election, you are selling the very opportunities that would have lifted you and your family out of poverty. You are selling the schools that your children should have attended, the hospitals that should save your loved ones and the jobs that would have given you dignity and a better life. Those who buy your vote only buy it to profit from the seat of power, not to serve you.
“The power to change this country is in your hands. The looters will only loot when we give them the opportunity. Your vote counts; if it doesn’t, they would not be desperately buying that vote.”
“Our democracy is at stake. That is why I urge every eligible Nigerian to register, collect, and safeguard your PVC, and when the time comes, use it wisely. Vote for leaders of competence, character, capacity, and compassion. Leaders who will put you first. Do not be intimidated, do not be deceived, and do not be bought.”
