By CHARLES CHIJIOKE
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed that the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will officially end today, Sunday, July 26, urging eligible Nigerians to seize the final opportunity to register or update their voter information before the deadline.
The electoral umpire made the announcement in a post on its official X handle on Sunday, stressing that participation in the exercise remains a mandatory requirement for Nigerians who intend to vote in the 2027 general elections.
Afrilensnews reports that the commission warned that time is running out for prospective voters, encouraging citizens who are yet to register to complete the process online through the CVR portal or visit any of its state and local government offices before the exercise closes.
“Time is running out, but there’s still an opportunity to make your voice count,” INEC stated.
“Register to vote or update your voter information before the close of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) today, Sunday, 26 July 2026.”
According to the commission, the exercise also covers requests for voter transfers, correction of personal information, and replacement of lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
The nationwide voter registration exercise has been conducted in phases over the past year. The first phase began in August 2025 with online pre-registration before physical registration commenced on August 25. By the end of that phase in December, INEC recorded 2,572,054 completed registrations, including 1,503,832 online registrations and 1,068,222 completed through physical enrollment.
The second phase ran from January 5 to April 17, 2026, during which the commission registered 3,748,704 eligible voters across the country. A third phase was later launched in May, with INEC extending the exercise by an additional two weeks in July to enable more Nigerians to participate.
With the deadline now reached, INEC advised eligible citizens not to postpone their registration any longer, emphasizing that only registered voters will be eligible to participate in the 2027 general elections.
The closure of the CVR exercise is expected to pave the way for the commission to clean up the voters’ register, process new registrations, and make preparations for the publication of the final voter register ahead of the 2027 polls. The exercise is also expected to shape voter participation and electoral planning for the next general election.
