The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise by two weeks, giving more eligible Nigerians another opportunity to register ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Commission announced that the exercise, which began on August 18, 2025, and was initially scheduled to end on July 10, 2026, will now close on Friday, July 24, 2026.
INEC said the decision followed a review of the registration exercise and feedback from its state offices, political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.
According to the Commission, the extension is designed to ensure that more eligible citizens who are yet to register are captured in the National Register of Voters before future elections.
As part of efforts to make voter registration easier, INEC also announced the launch of a fully online self-service registration platform for first-time voters.
The new digital service will go live on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, through the Commission’s dedicated portal, allowing eligible Nigerians to complete their voter registration, including biometric capture, using their personal devices from any location without visiting an INEC office.
INEC said the platform is equipped with robust identity verification, biometric validation and backend security checks to safeguard the integrity of the National Register of Voters.
“The extension underscores the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that every eligible Nigerian has a fair and reasonable opportunity to be included in the Register of Voters,” the statement said.
The Commission urged all eligible but unregistered Nigerians to take advantage of the extended registration period and the new online self-service option, reaffirming its commitment to a credible, inclusive and technology-driven electoral process.
