High Participation in Nigeria’s Continuous Voter Registration
The Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Nigeria has seen a significant number of citizens completing the online pre-registration process. During the first week, which ran from August 18 to 24, 2025, a total of 1,379,342 Nigerians successfully registered online. This milestone was announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and detailed in the CVR State Pre-Registration Report.
Osun State led the way with the highest number of pre-registrations, recording 393,269 individuals, which accounted for 28.51% of the national total. Lagos State followed closely with 222,205 registrations, making up 16.11% of the total. Ogun State also performed well, with 132,823 pre-registrations, representing 9.63% of the overall count.
Other notable states included the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which recorded 107,682 registrations, contributing 7.81% to the total. Oyo State added 66,951 (4.85%), while Kaduna and Kogi had 61,592 (4.47%) and 58,546 (4.24%) respectively. Kwara and Kebbi saw 33,726 and 35,009 registrations, with Yobe also showing strong participation at 34,888.
In the South-South region, Delta contributed 24,421 registrations, while Rivers and Akwa Ibom recorded 11,314 and 12,373 respectively. Cross River and Bayelsa added 4,055 and 4,638, respectively. Edo and Ondo had 2,875 and 3,426 registrations, indicating lower participation in these areas.
The North-East region also showed considerable engagement, with Borno leading at 21,045 registrations. Bauchi followed with 13,066, while Adamawa, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe recorded 2,155, 4,103, 2,395, and 34,888 respectively. In the North-West, Kaduna had 61,592 registrations, joined by Kano and Katsina with 10,166 and 11,004. Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara recorded 8,243, 35,009, 12,478, and 2,947 respectively.
North Central states saw significant participation as well. Niger recorded 24,818 registrations, while Nasarawa had 11,555. Plateau and Benue added 6,586 and 7,305, respectively. Kogi’s high figure placed it among the top-performing states.
However, the South-East region reported notably low registration numbers. Ebonyi had the lowest with only 261 registrations, followed by Enugu and Imo with 484 and 481 respectively. Abia added 772, while Anambra was not listed separately.
Extended Timeline and Physical Registration Phase
INEC has confirmed that the CVR exercise will run for an entire year and is scheduled to end on August 30, 2026. The physical phase of the CVR commenced on Monday across the country. Both new applicants and those who completed online pre-registration are expected to finalize their registration in person at INEC centers, where their biometric data will be captured.
The commission clarified that transfers of voter registration within or across states, as well as replacement of lost or damaged voter cards, are allowed during the ongoing CVR process. The exercise will take place at 811 centers nationwide, including all 774 Local Government Area offices and State offices. Registration hours are set from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.
INEC has also made provisions to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities and vulnerable groups. The online portal, www.cvr.inecnigeria.org, provides services such as pre-registration, PVC status checks, locating registration centers, transferring voter information, replacing lost or damaged cards, and updating personal details.
Public Awareness and Encouragement
INEC reiterated that the registration is strictly for Nigerian citizens who are at least 18 years old and have never registered before. Double or multiple registrations are illegal, but inter-State/FCT and intra-State/FCT transfers, as well as the replacement of lost or damaged voter cards, are permitted during the CVR.
In response to the initiative, the Oyo State government urged residents to take advantage of the ongoing CVR exercise and register in large numbers ahead of the next general elections. Dr. Morohunkola Thomas, Director-General of the Oyo State Mobilisation Agency for Socio-Economic Development, encouraged individuals to participate fully in the process, emphasizing that active involvement would ensure they can elect leaders of their choice when the time comes.
Residents were advised to register online via the official portal if they needed to transfer their registration, replace lost or damaged cards, or update their personal details.
