INEC to Begin Nationwide Continuous Voter Registration on August 18, 2025, towards 2027 Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially announced the commencement of a nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, scheduled to begin on Monday, August 18, 2025.

The commission stated that the exercise is aimed at several key groups: citizens who have turned 18 since the last registration, registered voters seeking to transfer their polling units due to relocation, and individuals needing to replace lost, stolen, or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

In a statement released Friday, INEC urged all eligible Nigerians to take advantage of the opportunity to ensure they are not disenfranchised in upcoming elections. The registration will take place at designated INEC offices and registration centers across all 774 local government areas of the country.

Further details on specific locations and operational hours are expected to be released by the commission’s state offices in the coming weeks.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will commence on August 18, 2025, with online pre-registration, followed by in-person registration starting August 25, 2025. The exercise will take place across all states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), targeting:

• First-time voters

• Registered voters who have relocated

• Individuals with lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs)

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this known during a courtesy visit to the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, where he revealed that INEC is partnering with the NOA on voter mobilisation ahead of the CVR, the Anambra Governorship election on November 8, 2025, and the 2027 general elections.

Prof. Yakubu emphasised the Commission’s multi-stakeholder approach, noting that collaboration with key national institutions is vital. He highlighted plans to deepen cooperation with the NOA through INEC’s Voter Education and Publicity Department, especially in light of the Commission’s new Artificial Intelligence Division under its ICT Department.

“We need to strengthen our partnership in the area of voter mobilisation,” Yakubu said. “While INEC will continue its voter education, the NOA should collaborate with political parties, civil society, and the media to increase voter turnout, especially among youths, women, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).”

He added that NOA has been included in the expanded membership of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) and will play a key role in the revitalised National Inter-Agency Committee on Voter Education and Publicity (NICVEP).

In response, NOA DG Lanre Issa-Onilu affirmed the agency’s commitment to promoting civic responsibility and patriotic engagement. He stressed that fostering patriotism requires good governance and effective communication of government policies.

“You cannot enforce or legislate patriotism; it must be inspired,” Issa-Onilu said. “By effectively communicating government actions, we can build trust, motivate citizens, and make INEC’s work easier.”

He reaffirmed NOA’s readiness to work with INEC to drive civic awareness and increase electoral participation.