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2027 Begins Now: INEC Rolls Out Nationwide Voter Registration from August 18

Makurdi, Nigeria – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially set the stage for the 2027 general elections, announcing the commencement of its nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise starting August 18, 2025.

Prof. Sam Egwu, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Benue State, disclosed this at a briefing in Makurdi on Monday. He emphasized that the CVR is in line with constitutional provisions aimed at ensuring all eligible Nigerians—especially those who have just turned 18—are not disenfranchised.

“The exercise is for Nigerians who have become eligible to vote after the last general election in 2023, including those who were outside the country, previously uninterested, or otherwise unable to register,” Prof. Egwu stated.

Two-Phase Registration: Online First, Physical Next
The exercise will roll out in two phases:

Phase 1: Online Pre-registration via the INEC official website begins on August 18, 2025.

Phase 2: In-Person Biometric Capture and physical registration will commence on August 25, 2025, across all INEC Area Offices and designated centres nationwide, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday.

The dual approach is designed to ease access and reduce congestion at registration centres.

Who Can Register?
Prof. Egwu outlined several categories of eligible registrants:

New voters who turned 18 or above after the 2023 elections

Citizens who missed out previously due to being abroad, incarcerated, or otherwise unavailable

Individuals seeking to:

Replace lost, stolen, or damaged voter cards

Correct personal data (such as name, gender, or age)

Transfer registration within or across states, wards, or polling units

Warning Against Extortion
INEC issued a strong warning to citizens not to pay or offer any form of bribe or gratification to get registered.

“Registration is free. Nigerians must report any attempt to extort them. The public should take advantage of this exercise early to avoid the last-minute rush that has plagued previous registrations,” Prof. Egwu advised.

Special Provision for IDPs
In recognition of displaced populations across the country, especially in Benue and other crisis-affected areas, INEC has assured that special mechanisms are being implemented to cater to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and ensure their inclusion in the democratic process.

Prof. Egwu concluded by stating that the closing date for this phase of the CVR will be announced in due course, allowing INEC to analyze and process the data collected before the final phase of preparations for the 2027 polls.

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna