By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise by two weeks and introduced a new online self-service registration platform for eligible first-time voters.
The Commission announced on Friday that the decision followed a review of the ongoing exercise and feedback received from its state offices, political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.
According to INEC, the nationwide CVR exercise, which commenced on August 18, 2025, was originally scheduled to end on July 10, 2026. However, the Commission has now approved an extension until Sunday, July 26, 2026, to provide more eligible Nigerians with the opportunity 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 unveiled a self-service voter registration option for first-time voters as part of efforts to improve accessibility and service delivery through technology.
According to the electoral body, the new online registration platform will become operational on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, through its dedicated CVR portal.
The self-service option will allow eligible Nigerians to initiate and complete their voter registration process, including biometric capture, using their personal devices without physically visiting any INEC office.
The Commission explained that the system 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 as voters to take advantage of the extended registration period and utilise the newly introduced online registration platform.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a credible, inclusive and accessible voter registration process while leveraging technology to improve citizens’ experience in Nigeria’s electoral system.
