The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday concluded the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ahead of the 2027 general election, urging eligible Nigerians who participated to await the display of the register.

The commission also assured voters that every valid vote would count in the coming elections.

The commission had fixed July 26, 2026, as the deadline for the exercise, which covered fresh voter registration, transfer of registration, correction of personal details and replacement of lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

In a reminder issued on Sunday, INEC urged eligible Nigerians to complete their registration before the close of the exercise.

“Time is running out, but there’s still an opportunity to make your vote count. Register to vote or update your voter information before the close of the Continuous Voter Registration today,” the commission said.

The electoral body had earlier extended the registration by two weeks to enable more eligible Nigerians to register ahead of the 2027 elections.

The CVR began with online pre-registration in August 2025 before physical registration commenced later that month.

INEC said the first phase, which ended in December 2025, recorded 2,572,054 completed registrations, comprising 1,503,832 online registrations and 1,068,222 physical registrations.

The second phase, which ran from January 5 to April 17, 2026, added 3,748,704 new registrations nationwide, while the third and final phase ended on Sunday.

Meanwhile, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has assured Nigerians that the commission remains committed to conducting credible elections in which every valid vote will count.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), in Minna, Niger State, Amupitan said despite the pressures facing the commission, it would ensure that the will of the electorate prevailed.

“Our determination is to see ordinary Nigerians go out and vote with confidence that their votes will be counted and reflected in the outcome of elections,” he said.

In his remarks, Abdulsalami called on Nigerians to support INEC in its efforts to deliver credible elections, saying sustained public confidence in the electoral process is vital to the country’s democracy.

Make voter registration permanent – stakeholders

Meanwhile, INEC has been advised not to be carried away by the figures recorded in the current Continuous Voters Registration exercise but strive to make it a permanent feature in order to capture all eligible voters

The President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Comrade Yinka Folarin and Prof Murtala Mohammed of the Northwest University, Kano gave the counsel in separate interviews with our correspondents.

Folarin urged INEC to make voter registration a permanent exercise rather than a periodic one, saying the move would improve citizens’ participation in elections.

Folarin also called on the electoral umpire to extend the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise to enable more eligible Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) before the next general election.

Speaking with Daily Trust in a telephone interview on the final phase of the nationwide CVR, Folarin said INEC and political parties had made appreciable efforts to mobilise Nigerians to register.

“So I feel, to an extent, I want participation partly on the attitude of some citizens, saying many people wait until election periods before attempting to the time of the election, they need not get the necessary documents that should enable them to participate, which is not a good attitude.

“In my own opinion, I feel that there has been more announcement, engagement and encouragement of the people to get themselves to participate in the forthcoming election. The political parties also have been trying to encourage their members and members of the public to do this,” he said.

He, however, argued that voter registration “is supposed to be a continuous exercise and a compelling exercise for every qualified voter.”

“It’s supposed to be a compelling exercise for them to get their Permanent Voter Card and participate in the election. So I feel, to an extent, I want to give it to INEC and the political parties also,” he added.

The CDHR president blamed low participation partly on the attitude of some citizens, saying many people wait until election periods before attempting to register.

To address the challenge, Folarin proposed that INEC should establish a permanent voter registration system and strengthen collaboration with other government agencies.

“We can make it a continuous thing. Also, beyond having it periodically, I feel if INEC can link up with NIMC and the National Population Commission to have records of the people and share data, it will help in producing the cards and making them available for eligible voters,” he said.

On whether the ongoing CVR should be extended, Folarin said he strongly supports an extension to ensure more eligible Nigerians were not excluded from the electoral process.

Professor Murtala Muhammad of North West University, Kano, while speaking with our correspondent said while the increase in number is “a positive indicator of democratic expansion,” electoral legitimacy depends on more than registration figures.

“Registration figures alone should not be mistaken for effective inclusion,” he stressed, noting that civic awareness, accessibility, trust in institutions and actual voter turnout are equally critical.

He observed that despite INEC’s awareness campaigns, mobilization has been uneven, with rural communities, women, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons and young first-time voters facing structural barriers such as poor internet access, insecurity and inadequate voter education.

Professor Muhammad pointed to India and Indonesia as examples of countries that achieved wider inclusion by partnering with civil society groups, religious bodies and local leaders. He urged Nigeria to adopt similar community-driven approaches to strengthen mobilization.

On whether INEC can manage nearly 100 million voters, he acknowledged the logistical challenge but expressed confidence in the Commission’s capacity, citing its experience and technological innovations like the Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

He added that success will require early planning, staff training, adequate funding, cyber security and collaboration with security agencies. (Daily Trust)

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