The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise by two weeks, giving eligible Nigerians more time to register ahead of future elections, especially the 2027 general elections.
The electoral umpire also introduced a new online self-service voter registration portal that will allow first-time voters to begin and complete their registration process using their personal devices without visiting any INEC office.
INEC announced the development in a statement issued on Friday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.
According to the commission, the decision to extend the exercise followed a review of the registration process and consultations with its state offices, political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.
The nationwide Continuous Voter Registration exercise, which began on August 18, 2025, was originally scheduled to end on July 10, 2026. However, INEC has now shifted the closing date to Friday, July 24, 2026, to enable more eligible Nigerians to register and be included in the national voters’ register.
The commission said the extension reflects its determination to ensure that every qualified Nigerian has enough opportunity to participate in the electoral process.
“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 extension comes at a crucial period as preparations gradually gather pace for the 2027 general elections. The Continuous Voter Registration exercise is expected to be the last major voter registration exercise before Nigerians head to the polls to elect a new President, governors, members of the National Assembly, state lawmakers and other public office holders.
Apart from extending the registration period, INEC also unveiled what it described as a major technological improvement in Nigeria’s electoral process with the introduction of an online self-service voter registration platform.
The commission explained that the new platform would enable eligible first-time voters to initiate and complete their voter registration process online through their phones, tablets or computers.
Unlike previous registration exercises that required applicants to visit designated INEC registration centres for most stages of the process, the new system is designed to allow users to complete the registration, including biometric capture, from the comfort of their homes or any location using their personal devices.
INEC said the online portal would come with detailed step-by-step instructions to guide users through the registration process.
According to the commission, the platform has been built with strong security features to protect the integrity of the country’s voter register.
It explained that the system includes identity verification, biometric validation and backend integrity checks to ensure that only eligible Nigerians are successfully registered while preventing duplicate registrations and other forms of electoral fraud.
“The system has robust identity verification, biometric validation, and backend integrity checks designed to preserve the credibility and accuracy of the National Register of Voters,” the commission stated.
The introduction of the online registration platform marks another effort by INEC to deploy technology in improving election management and making electoral services more accessible to citizens.
Over the past few election cycles, the commission has introduced several digital innovations aimed at strengthening the credibility of elections. These include the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for voter accreditation and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), which allows members of the public to monitor uploaded polling unit results.
Although some of these innovations have faced technical and operational challenges, they have also been widely praised for improving transparency and reducing opportunities for electoral malpractice.
The latest online registration initiative is expected to reduce congestion at registration centres, shorten waiting time for applicants and make it easier for Nigerians, especially those living in remote areas or those with busy work schedules, to register as voters.
INEC urged Nigerians who have not yet registered to take advantage of both the extended registration period and the new online option.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a voter registration process that is credible, inclusive and accessible to all eligible citizens.
“The Commission remains committed to a credible, inclusive and accessible voter registration process, and to advancing the use of technology to improve citizens’ experience in the electoral process,” the statement added.
The Continuous Voter Registration exercise is one of INEC’s constitutional responsibilities and is carried out to allow Nigerians who have attained voting age, those who were unable to register during previous exercises, and eligible citizens who need to update their registration details to do so before elections.
Under Nigeria’s electoral laws, only citizens whose names appear in the national register of voters are eligible to vote during elections. This makes the registration exercise a critical step in ensuring broad participation in the democratic process.
With the new deadline of July 24, 2026, INEC hopes to capture more eligible voters and further strengthen public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.