2027: Voter registration ends amid concerns over access, credibility

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ended the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

The commission ruled out any extension of the exercise, insisting that the nationwide registration ended on Sunday, despite appeals by opposition political parties and civil society organisations for more time.

It had urged eligible Nigerians who were yet to register to take advantage of the remaining hours before the registration window closed.

INEC also reminded prospective voters that they could complete the registration process online through its dedicated CVR portal or visit designated INEC offices and registration centres nationwide for physical registration.

The commission maintained that there would be no extension, stressing that the timeline is in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.

The provision requires voter registration, updates and revisions to the register to be suspended at least 90 days before an election to allow for data clean-up, production of Permanent Voter Cards and other logistical preparations.

INEC said millions of new voters had registered since the exercise commenced.

In major cities, including Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt, prospective registrants complained of spending several hours at registration centres, with many returning repeatedly because of equipment failures, network disruptions or inadequate personnel.

Similar concerns were raised in rural communities, where limited registration centres and transportation costs discouraged many eligible voters from participating.