INEC: Over 1.3m Nigerians completed online voter registration in one week

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says more than 1.3 million Nigerians have completed their online voter pre-registration within just one week of opening the continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise.

The nationwide online pre-registration of voters commenced on August 18, 2025.

A statement on Monday by Sam Olumekun, INEC’s national commissioner and chairman of the information and voter education committee, said the figure stood at 1,379,342 as of August 24.

Olumekun said the breakdown of the online pre-registrations shows that 661,846 (47.96 percent) are male and 717,856 (52.04 percent) are female.

He added that young people between the ages of 18 and 34 constitute the majority of the registrants with 860,286 (62.37 percent).

“In terms of occupation, 374,534 (27.15%) are students while the figure for persons with disability is 27,089 (1.96%). Full details have been published on our website and other official platforms for public information,” the statement reads.

Olumekun also said physical registration kicked off on August 25 in INEC’s 811 state and local government offices nationwide.

He said this will allow those who prefer the in-person option to register at the centres and those who chose the online pre-registration method to complete their registration.

”Once again, the Commission appeals to the public that the ongoing voter registration is only open to Nigerian citizens who are at least 18 years old and who are not registered voters,” the statement reads.

“Double or multiple registration is a violation of the law. However, inter-State/FCT and intra-State/FCT transfer of voters as well as the replacement of lost or damaged voters’ cards, are allowed during the CVR.

”The exercise will continue for one year until 30th August 2026. However, the Commission urged all intending registrants not to wait until the deadline approaches when, from experience, the registration centres are inundated by eleventh-hour registrants amidst appeals for extension of time.”