INEC Ends Voter Registration, Opposition Demands Extension

Morganable Politics/Elections

In a public notice issued via its official X handle on Saturday, the commission reaffirmed its stance, urging Nigerians who had yet to register to take advantage of the final hours before the exercise closes

kaNo —

The Independent National Electoral Commission has insisted that the Continuous Voter Registration exercise will end today (Sunday), despite mounting pressure from opposition political parties and civil society organisations demanding an extension.

The demand for extension was due to fear that millions of eligible Nigerians could be disenfranchised ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The decision has sparked debate across the political landscape, with critics warning that the closure of the registration window could shut out a significant number of prospective voters who were unable to complete the process within the stipulated timeframe.

While opposition parties and civic groups called for an extension to accommodate more registrants, INEC maintained that the timeline remains firm and in line with existing legal provisions guiding electoral processes in the country.

In a public notice issued via its official X handle on Saturday, the commission reaffirmed its stance, urging Nigerians who had yet to register to take advantage of the final hours before the exercise closes.

“Your future won’t wait. Neither should you. The Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ends Sunday, 26 July 2026,” the commission stated.

CVR Portal Remains Open For Completion Of Registration

INEC also reminded citizens that the registration process could be completed online through its dedicated CVR portal, while physical assistance remained available at designated registration centres and offices nationwide between 9am and 3pm on the final day.

The electoral body anchored its decision on provisions of the Electoral Act, which mandates it to suspend voter registration, updating, and revision of the voters’ register at least 90 days before any election.

This period, according to the commission, is critical for data cleaning, printing of Permanent Voter Cards, and other logistical preparations required for credible polls.

The law further requires INEC to display the provisional voters’ register for claims and objections, allowing Nigerians to challenge omissions, correct errors, and ensure the credibility of the final register before elections are conducted.

Reinforcing the commission’s position, INEC National Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, said there would be no extension beyond the midnight deadline on Sunday, stressing that the commission must proceed with backend processes necessary for election planning.

“By midnight on Sunday, voter registration ends. There won’t be any extension. There are so many things that we need to do at the back end. We have to draw a line; otherwise, we won’t be able to produce a clean copy of what has been posted,” Haruna said.

He explained that immediately after the closure of the registration window, INEC’s Information Technology team and Voter Registration Department would commence processing the data collected during the exercise.

According to him, the commission will deploy its Automated Biometric Identification System to detect and yeliminate multiple registrations, a key step in ensuring the integrity of the voters’ register.

“We have this automatic biometric system that will check whether somebody has registered more than once. They will publish the register for claims and objections. That is, if anybody thinks a name shouldn’t be on the register, or if he has some claims, for instance, that his name has been omitted or some of his details are incorrect,” he said.

Haruna added that the final number of newly registered voters would only be determined after the biometric verification process and the resolution of claims and objections.

“It’s after all that has been done that we will have a final figure, which we will now add to the existing 93 million or so. That will then become the voters’ register. We are mandated to give every political party a copy ahead of the election,” he said.

Responding to concerns about potential voter exclusion, the national commissioner maintained that INEC could only account for citizens who presented themselves for registration within the stipulated period.

He noted that the commission had provided multiple channels for registration, including online platforms, physical centres, and INEC offices across all 774 local government areas in the country.

Similarly, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Dayo Oketola, defended the decision, describing it as both lawful and necessary for the smooth conduct of the 2027 general elections.

Oketola dismissed claims that the closure would disenfranchise voters, arguing that the exercise had already been extended and widely publicised to ensure maximum participation.

He also refuted concerns about technical challenges or congestion on the registration portal, stating that the system was robust enough to accommodate applicants throughout the exercise.

“The system was built to handle the volume of applicants. There was no unusual pressure on the portal,” he said.

According to him, INEC undertook extensive voter education and awareness campaigns nationwide to encourage eligible Nigerians to register.

“The states have pictorial evidence of the awareness campaigns and voter education carried out by the commission,” Oketola added.

He warned that extending the registration indefinitely could disrupt the commission’s timeline and compromise preparations for the elections.

2,970,257 Eligible Nigerians Registered

Meanwhile, data released by INEC indicated that a total of 2,970,257 eligible Nigerians were registered during Phase III, Week Nine of the CVR exercise as of July 17, 2026.

The figure, which includes both online and physical registrations, remains provisional and subject to further verification during the claims and objections period.

A breakdown of the data showed that 970,865 registrants, representing 33.79 per cent, completed their registration online, while 2,000,092, or 66.21 per cent, were captured physically at registration centres nationwide.

The statistics also revealed that female registrants outnumbered their male counterparts, with 1,561,765 women accounting for 52.57 per cent of the total, compared to 1,409,192 men, representing 47.43 per cent.

In terms of age distribution, young Nigerians dominated the registration exercise. The data showed that 2,003,183 registrants, representing 67.43 per cent, were aged between 18 and 34.

Those aged between 35 and 49 accounted for 645,651 registrations, while 294,443 registrants fell within the 50 to 69 age bracket. Only 27,680 persons aged 70 and above registered during the period, representing 0.93 per cent of the total.

INEC Suspend CVR Exercise Ahead Of Osun Polls

INEC also noted that the CVR exercise had been suspended in Osun State in compliance with Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022, ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

Despite the commission’s assurances, opposition parties and civil society organisations have continued to express concerns that the end of the registration exercise could exclude many Nigerians, particularly those in remote areas or those who faced logistical challenges during the process.

As the deadline approaches, attention is expected to shift to the next phases of the electoral process, including data verification, publication of the provisional register, and eventual distribution of Permanent Voter Cards.