Key Takeaways
- INEC concludes the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration exercise ahead of the 2027 general election.
- Eligible Nigerians who participated are urged to await the display of the register.
- Every valid vote will count in the coming elections.
- The commission assures voters of the integrity of the electoral process.
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 CVR exercise, which covered fresh voter registration, transfer of registration, correction of personal details, and replacement of lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), began with online pre-registration in August 2025 before physical registration commenced later that month. 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.
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.
Stakeholders' Reactions
Meanwhile, stakeholders have advised INEC 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.
Folarin urged INEC to make voter registration a permanent exercise rather than a periodic one, saying the move would improve citizens’ participation in elections. He 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.
Why This Matters
The success of the electoral process depends on the integrity of the voter registration exercise, and INEC's commitment to conducting credible elections is crucial to the country's democracy. The commission's ability to manage nearly 100 million voters and ensure that every valid vote counts will be a significant factor in determining the outcome of the 2027 general election.