The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that a total of 1,379,342 Nigerians participated in its online pre-registration for the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise within just one week nationwide.
Mr. Sam Olumekun, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, disclosed this in Abuja on Monday.
It would be recalled that the nationwide online pre-registration of voters commenced on Monday, August 18.
Olumekun revealed that as of Sunday, August 24, a total of 1,379,342 Nigerians had registered nationwide in the first week of the exercise.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the first weekly update of the CVR provided details by state, gender, age, occupation, and disability status of the registrants.
According to the breakdown, Osun State recorded the highest number of pre-registrations with 393,823 (28.51%), followed by Lagos State with 222,205 (16.11%), while Ebonyi recorded the lowest with 261 (0.02%).
Olumekun further stated that 661,846 registrants (47.96%) are male, while 717,856 (52.04%) are female.
“Young people between the ages of 18 and 34 constitute the majority of registrants with 860,286 (62.37%),” he added.
In terms of occupation, 374,534 (27.15%) are students, while 27,089 (1.96%) are persons with disabilities.
Olumekun noted that the full details of the registration had been published on INEC’s website and other official platforms for public access.
He also reminded Nigerians that physical registration commenced on Monday across 811 state and local government offices nationwide.
“This will afford those who prefer the in-person option to register at the centres, while those who chose the online pre-registration method can complete their registration,” he said.
The commissioner emphasized that the CVR exercise is strictly for Nigerian citizens who are at least 18 years old and have not registered before, warning that double or multiple registration is a violation of the law.
However, he clarified that inter-state/FCT and intra-state/FCT voter transfers, as well as the replacement of lost or damaged voter cards, are allowed during the CVR exercise.
Olumekun further explained that the exercise would continue for one year until August 30, 2026, urging eligible citizens not to wait until the deadline.
“From experience, registration centres are usually overwhelmed at the eleventh hour, leading to appeals for an extension of time, and this is not advisable,” he cautioned.
