As the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) prepares to commence the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), political parties and civil society organisations (CSOs) have asked the commission to ensure the process is less strenuous and efficient.
They stressed the need to deploy technology to make the exercise seamless and less stressful for prospective registrants.
They also called for removing constitutional bottlenecks in the Electoral Act, 2022, primarily section 10(2), which mandates that registrants appear in person at the registration venue.
The CSOs, who spoke with LEADERSHIP, also called for cleaning up of the existing register before the new exercise begins.
They said the electoral commission must clean the existing voter register to eliminate errors, duplicate entries, and the names of deceased individuals before commencing with the fresh registration.
However, the electoral commission has urged prospective registrants to turn out early, adding that the last-minute rush to register puts much pressure on its staff and facilities.
The electoral body, however, added that it was ready to ensure registrants get a pleasant experience.
INEC announced last week that Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) would commence on August 18, 2025.
The commission disclosed that while online pre-registration would open on August 18 through its official portal, cvr.inecnigeria.org, in-person registration commences on August 25, 2025, at all INEC Local Government Area offices and designated registration centres nationwide from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The CVR is a process by INEC that registers eligible Nigerian citizens who want to vote. It’s designed for those who have turned 18 since the last registration or those who couldn’t register.
This CVR exercise comes ahead of some by-elections and off-cycle governorship elections in Anambra (November 2025), Osun (2026), and Ekiti (2026).
Beyond repeated calls for a sanitised voter register, concerns of a strenuous voter registration process have also been rife.
CSOs react
Reacting to INEC’s CVR plans, the executive director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, asked INEC to address several critical issues to ensure the process is credible, inclusive and efficient.
He said the commission should consider expanding the number of registration centres beyond local councils if physical appearance at INEC centres remained mandatory.
He added that many of these offices are located far from where voters live, creating unnecessary barriers to access.
Itodo said, “First, INEC must clean the existing voter register to eliminate errors, duplicate entries, and the names of deceased individuals.
“A credible register remains the foundation of transparent elections. While introducing online pre-registration is a welcome innovation, the process should be optimised to enable voters to capture their biometrics remotely.
“If physical appearance at INEC centres remains mandatory, then the commission should expand the number of registration centres beyond LGA offices. Many of these offices are located far from where voters live, creating unnecessary barriers to access. The technology to be deployed for registration must be updated and thoroughly tested in advance to prevent the breakdowns and delays that plagued previous exercises.
“Functionality and reliability are essential to a seamless registration process. Finally, INEC should institute strong safeguards to prevent illegal registration and the padding of the voter register. The commission must draw lessons from the lapses observed during the last national CVR exercise and ensure that this round is more transparent and secure,” he added.
Reacting, Armsfree Ajanaku, executive director of the Grassroots Centre for Rights and Civic Orientation, said technology should be harnessed to address the bottlenecks, which make pre-electoral processes like continuous voter registration cumbersome and time-consuming.
Ajanaku also called for a review of the Electoral Act, 2022, especially section 10(2), to remove the impediment to a seamless CVR.
He noted, “Section 10(2) of the Electoral Act, 2022 states: ‘Each applicant for registration under the continuous registration system shall appear in person at the registration venue…’
“The section further lists documents like a birth certificate, identity card, driver’s license, or any other document that proves the applicant’s identity, age, and nationality. The legal framework mandates appearance in person, and until that is changed, it will remain so.
“Until the legal framework changes, human contact will drive the process. However, the legal framework hints at the possibility of citizens’ data being sourced through birth registration, driver’s license, etc.
“Therefore, as much as practicable, technology and data from other records agencies could be used to make the process seamless for improved citizens’ participation.”
For his part, Sylvanus Udoenoh, executive director of CREAP Africa Initiative, expressed concern over the recurring patterns of hardship, inefficiency, and systemic barriers that continue to define the voter registration experience for many Nigerians, particularly first-time voters, rural dwellers, persons with disabilities, and other marginalised groups.
“In past exercises, it has become disturbingly routine for citizens to spend nights at registration centres, queue for hours, and sometimes fail to register despite multiple visits. This discourages voter participation and undermines citizens’ confidence in the electoral process.
“We know that the Electoral Act 2022 authorises INEC to power the electoral processes electronically. We also know that INEC has established and operates an ICT department, which is a commendable development.
“However, the absence of robust, user-friendly digital voter registration systems, particularly the inability of Nigerians to register from the comfort of their homes or via mobile phones, raises serious concerns about the commission’s digital transformation priorities,” he noted.
Udoenoh insisted that democracy must be accessible; hence, voter registration should not be a stressful or exclusive experience, saying INEC must take urgent steps to decentralise and digitise the process, building on models like what was used during the COVID-19 pandemic, where online pre-registration was introduced.
“ICT departments must deliver real value. These units should be tasked with developing scalable digital tools that allow remote identity verification, appointment scheduling, and real-time feedback to reduce congestion at physical centres. We assumed this should have been thought through to build voter confidence.
“INEC must be people-centred and proactive. It is not enough to open registration centres; the Commission must prioritise the voter experience, deploy mobile registration units to hard-to-reach communities, and ensure timely communication with the public.
“We join other CSOs, like Yiaga Africa, to call for a national voter registration audit to identify and address bottlenecks, improve efficiency, and design systems that work for the realities of Nigerians in urban and rural areas. Some voters may have already died and need to be wiped out of the register.
“INEC has a constitutional duty to guarantee universal suffrage. We cannot continue to do the same thing the same way while we expect different results. In 2025, this must mean using technology not as a buzzword, but as a bridge; connecting citizens to their democratic rights with dignity, ease, and efficiency,” he added.
Political parties….
The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), the umbrella body of all registered political parties in Nigeria, called for a robust voter exercise in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2022 under the Third Schedule, Part 1, Section 14(e), and the Electoral Act 2022, Part III, Sections 9 and 10.
The IPAC national chairman, Dr. Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, told LEADERSHIP that the exercise is the foundation of credible elections, and “we must all commit to it.”
He commended INEC for establishing an Artificial Intelligence Department and welcomed its gradual deployment in election management.
He said, “IPAC has been at the forefront in mobilising citizens of voting age to participate in the ongoing voter registration, as there is a correlation between voter registration and voter turnout. The success and integrity of any election start with efficient voter registration. It is obvious that a reliable register of voters is at the heart of election integrity and builds trust in the system essential for sustainable democracy,” he said.
The national chairman added that the by-elections in August 2025, the Anambra State governorship election in November 2025, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council elections in 2026, the 2026 Osun State gubernatorial poll, etc., provide political parties with the opportunity to mobilise citizens to register and participate in these elections, which will culminate in the 2027 general election.
He said voter education and mobilisation of citizens to register and vote in all elections are the heartbeats of political parties, as they are the only channels for the election of public office holders in Nigeria.
He said IPAC is firmly determined to mobilise citizens to register in the ongoing voter registration for inclusive governance, aligned with the roles of political parties in consolidating and deepening democracy, ensuring an environment conducive to successful elections, political stability, enduring democracy, and the overall well-being of Nigerians.
He said, “Council is concerned about voter apathy in previous elections, and has reviewed the immediate and remote causes to address them. On Wednesday, 30th July 2025, at the public presentation of the IPAC constitution and Political Party Performance Index (PPPI), facilitated by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) in Abuja, leaders of political parties assessed the report of the PPPI across three core areas – inclusivity, legal compliance and public engagement.
“The index inspired and motivated parties to strengthen their internal systems and become responsive to citizens as we strive to build a strong, virile, prosperous and inclusive democratic society.
“IPAC also used the opportunity of the meeting with the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) Post-Election Follow-up/Needs Assessment Mission to Nigeria led by the Chairperson, National Elections Commission of Liberia, Mrs Davidetta Browne Lansanah, at its national secretariat, Abuja on Friday, 1st August 2025, to highlight its roles in strengthening democracy in Nigeria, particularly in mobilising citizens to register and vote in all elections. This requires funds and underscores the need to restore annual grants to political parties removed in the previous amendments to the constitution and the electoral act.
“The nation’s democracy is still evolving, while INEC’s establishment of an AI Department is commendable and in sync with global practices of deploying technology in elections management, with time, citizens will be able to register from the comfort of their homes.
“Already, the commission has commenced online voter registration, which still requires physical documentation. There is also a portal for submission of lists of candidates, party agents, journalists, and election observers’ accreditations.
“The electoral body must continue with voter registration as the commission improves its performance and gets legal backing in the ongoing Constitution and Electoral Act amendment, the use of national identity cards for elections can be adopted as obtainable in advanced democracies.
“For now, let INEC ensure the effective deployment of BVAS and IReV portals to rebuild trust and confidence in the electoral process. Rome was not built in a day. Gradually, an electronic voting system, diaspora voting, the conduct of elections in one day, etc., will be adopted,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party’s national publicity secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said the exercise had yielded positive results in the past, and his party did not expect anything different.
“However, under this present INEC leadership, processes leading to elections hardly have challenges, but that cannot be said about the outcome of the polls.
“Under this present leadership, the number of litigation arising from elections has increased. More seats are won through the courts rather than through the ballots. Policies are inconsistent, particularly when the government spent over three hundred billion Naira to acquire technology to ease election transparency. Still, the commission discarded it because it would not help their premeditated agenda. So what is the essence of CVR when people’s votes are sometimes overlooked for a preferred candidate,” he said.
Show up early INEC tells registrants …
INEC said it is adequately prepared for the exercise.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP about the forthcoming exercise, Rotimi Oyekanmi, chief press secretary to the INEC chairman, said the commission has made adequate arrangements to give prospective registrants a pleasant experience during the exercise.
Oyekanmi observed that many Nigerians do not show up early at the outset of the CVR until it is one week to the deadline, thereby putting a lot of pressure on INEC staff as well as facilities and appealed to Nigerians who wish to register not to wait till the last minute.
He said, “Adequate arrangements have been made to give prospective registrants a pleasant experience in the forthcoming Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
“The commission rolled out its pre-registration portal in 2021, which allowed Nigerians to begin their registration online, upload their details, and complete the process at a designated centre. Over one million Nigerians took advantage of that option.
“Then, we have the in-person registration option, which allows Nigerians to walk into a registration centre and register.
“From experience, many Nigerians do not show up early at the outset of the CVR. But when it is one week to the deadline, many people will start showing up, putting a lot of pressure on our staff and facilities.
“I appeal to Nigerians who wish to register not to wait till the last minute. The earlier they register, the better.”
