The Independent National Electoral Commission has ruled out any extension of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, insisting that the nationwide registration programme will conclude today despite calls from opposition parties and civil society organisations for additional time.
The electoral body urged eligible Nigerians who have yet to register to take advantage of the remaining hours before the exercise closes.
In a statement posted on its official X account, INEC reaffirmed that the CVR exercise would end on Sunday, July 26, 2026, with registration centres nationwide operating between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
“Your future won’t wait. Neither should you. The Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ends Sunday, 26 July 2026,” the commission stated.
INEC also reminded prospective voters that registration could be completed through its online CVR portal or physically at designated registration centres and offices across the country.
The commission explained that the Electoral Act 2022 requires voter registration, updates and revisions to the voters’ register to be suspended at least 90 days before an election. The provision is intended to allow sufficient time for data verification, production of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and other logistical preparations.
The law also mandates the display of the voters’ register for claims and objections, enabling eligible citizens to identify and correct omissions or inaccuracies before the final register is certified for elections.
According to INEC, the ongoing exercise is designed to ensure that all eligible Nigerians are captured in the voters’ register ahead of future elections.
Nearly Three Million Registrants Recorded
Data released by the commission showed that as of Phase III, Week Nine of the exercise on July 17, 2026, a total of 2,970,257 eligible Nigerians had successfully registered.
Of that figure, 970,865 registrants, representing 33.79 per cent, completed their registration online, while 2,000,092 persons, or 66.21 per cent, registered physically at designated centres nationwide.
Female registrants accounted for 1,561,765 registrations, representing 52.57 per cent of the total, while male registrants stood at 1,409,192, or 47.43 per cent.
Young Nigerians recorded the highest participation rate, with 2,003,183 registrants aged between 18 and 34 years, accounting for 67.43 per cent of all registrations.
The age group of 35 to 49 years recorded 645,651 registrations, while 294,443 persons aged between 50 and 69 registered during the exercise. Another 27,680 Nigerians aged 70 years and above were also captured, representing 0.93 per cent of the total.
Students Lead Occupational Categories
By occupation, students accounted for the largest number of registrants with 695,026 registrations, representing 23.39 per cent of the total.
Business owners followed with 626,523 registrations, while farmers and fishermen recorded 505,402 registrations. Housewives accounted for 480,682 registrants.
Other occupational groups included artisans, traders, civil servants and public servants.
The commission also disclosed that 32,361 persons living with disabilities registered during the exercise.
Kano Tops State Registration Figures
State-by-state statistics showed that Kano recorded the highest number of registrations with 234,305 voters added to the register.
Lagos followed with 140,546 registrations, while Edo recorded 139,313.
Other states with notable registration figures included Delta, Taraba, Ebonyi, Sokoto, Ogun, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kaduna, Benue, Oyo, Imo, Anambra, Nasarawa, Cross River, Bayelsa, Niger, Kwara, Katsina, Gombe, Yobe, Kebbi, Kogi, Adamawa and Borno.
The Federal Capital Territory recorded 41,700 registrations, while Plateau State registered 31,352 voters during the period under review.
Meanwhile, the CVR exercise remains suspended in Osun State ahead of the forthcoming governorship election, in compliance with the provisions of Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022.
With the registration deadline now reached, INEC has urged all eligible Nigerians who have not yet enrolled to complete the process before the exercise officially closes.
INEC Rules Out Extension as Continuous Voter Registration Ends Today
