The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria has reported a remarkable surge in voter registration, recording an impressive 69,376 registrants within just seven hours of launching the online pre-registration phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise on Monday, August 18, 2025.

This significant turnout coincided with a viral social media post by Peter Obi, a prominent Nigerian political figure, which appears to have galvanized public interest in the electoral process.

The online registration portal, which went live at 8:30 am on the same day, is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at the official INEC website, https://cvr.inecnigeria.org, providing a convenient platform for eligible Nigerians to participate in the democratic process.

According to a statement released by Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the Commission recorded these 69,376 registrants by 3:30 pm, a mere seven hours after the portal’s activation.

The demographic breakdown of the registrants offers a glimpse into the composition of Nigeria’s emerging electorate.

Of the total figure, 33,803 registrants, representing 48.7%, are male, while 35,573, or 51.3%, are female, indicating a slight majority of female participation in the early hours of the exercise.

Furthermore, a significant portion of the registrants—48,033 individuals, or 69.2%—are young persons aged between 18 and 34 years, underscoring the enthusiasm of Nigeria’s youth in engaging with the electoral process and shaping the country’s political future.

The CVR exercise, which commenced on August 18, 2025, is designed to ensure that all eligible Nigerians have the opportunity to register as voters ahead of upcoming elections.

The online pre-registration option is the first phase of this process, allowing citizens to initiate their registration conveniently from anywhere with internet access. However, INEC has also announced plans to expand the registration process to include an in-person option, set to begin on Monday, August 25, 2025.

This in-person registration will take place at INEC’s 811 state and local government offices across the country, operating from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on weekdays (Monday to Friday).

This phase will cater to individuals who prefer to register in person and will also allow those who initiated their registration online to complete the process by providing biometric data and other required information.

INEC has clarified that both the online and in-person registration options will run concurrently throughout the duration of the CVR, as outlined in the commission’s previously released schedule.

This dual approach is intended to maximize accessibility and ensure that as many eligible Nigerians as possible can participate in the exercise.

To keep the public informed, INEC has committed to providing weekly updates on the CVR, starting the following week.

These updates will include detailed breakdowns of registration statistics by state, gender, age, occupation, and disability, offering valuable insights into the demographic trends of Nigeria’s electorate.

The commission has also emphasized the legal and procedural guidelines governing the CVR exercise.

Voter registration is exclusively open to Nigerian citizens who are at least 18 years old and who have not previously registered as voters.

INEC has warned that double or multiple registrations are strictly prohibited and constitute a violation of Nigerian electoral law, which could result in legal consequences for offenders.

However, the CVR exercise also accommodates other voter-related services, such as inter-state or intra-state transfers of voter registration and the replacement of lost or damaged voter cards, ensuring that existing voters can update or correct their registration details as needed. (Nigerian Tribune)