Yemi Obafemi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified that online pre-registration for Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) is incomplete until applicants appear physically at its designated centres nationwide to capture their fingerprints and facial biometrics.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information & Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun on Tuesday.
The Commission explained that while the introduction of the pre-registration option in 2021 has enabled Nigerians to begin the process online from anywhere in the world at any time, applicants must appear in person at any of its 811 State and Local Government offices to capture their fingerprints and facial biometrics.
“This instruction is clearly stated on the online portal. We urge all online pre-registrants to complete the process in person at INEC designated registration centres, without which the online process alone is invalid,” the Commission said.
INEC also noted that arrangements have been made for Nigerians without internet access or those who prefer physical registration, as staff have been deployed across its offices to attend to eligible citizens.
The centres, according to INEC, are open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, with the list and addresses already made public.
The Commission announced that a total of 2,532,062 Nigerians have pre-registered online for the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which began on Monday, August 18, 2025.
According to figures released by the Commission, as of Sunday, August 31, 2025, women accounted for a slightly higher percentage of online pre-registrants with 1,313,580 (51.88%), compared to 1,218,482 men (48.12%). The majority of applicants , 1,602,484 (63.29%), fall within the 18–34 age bracket, while 647,528 (25.57%) identified as students.
INEC further disclosed that the in-person registration, which commenced on Monday, August 25, has recorded 72,274 registrants within its first five days. Out of this number, 36,652 (50.71%) are female and 35,622 (49.29%) are male. A significant proportion, 54,718 (75.71%), are aged between 18 and 34 years, while 30,953 (42.83%) are students.
The Commission said the exercise is ongoing across its 811 state and local government offices nationwide.
