INEC Extends Voters Registration By Two Weeks

By Palang Paul

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise by two weeks and introduced an online self-service registration platform for eligible first-time voters.

The commission announced the decision in a press release issued on Friday July 3rd,2026 by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mohammed Kudu Haruna, saying the extension followed a review of the exercise and feedback from its state offices, political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.

The nationwide CVR exercise, which began on August 18, 2025, was initially scheduled to end on July 10, 2026, but will now continue until Sunday, July 26, 2026, to enable more eligible Nigerians to register ahead of future elections.

INEC said the extension reflects its commitment to ensuring that every eligible citizen has a fair and reasonable opportunity to be included in the National Register of Voters.

The commission also announced the introduction of a self-service online registration option for first-time voters, which will become operational on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.

According to INEC, the new service, accessible through its dedicated CVR portal, will allow eligible Nigerians to initiate and complete their voter registration process, including biometric capture, using their personal devices without visiting any INEC office.

The commission said the platform is equipped with robust identity verification, biometric validation and backend integrity checks to safeguard the credibility and accuracy of the National Register of Voters.

INEC urged all eligible Nigerians who are yet to register to take advantage of the extended registration period and utilise the new technology-driven registration option.

The commission reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a credible, inclusive and accessible voter registration process while leveraging technology to improve citizens’ participation and experience in Nigeria’s electoral process.