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.
The electoral body announced that the exercise, which began on 18 August 2025 and was originally scheduled to end on 10 July 2026, will now close on Sunday, 26 July 2026.
According to INEC, the decision followed a review of the registration exercise and feedback received from its state offices, political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders across the country.
The Commission said the extension demonstrates its commitment to ensuring that every eligible Nigerian has a fair and reasonable opportunity to be included in the National Register of Voters.
In a major technological innovation, INEC also unveiled a self-service online voter registration platform for eligible first-time voters.
The new service will become
available from Wednesday, 8 July 2026, through the Commission’s dedicated CVR portal. The platform will enable first-time voters to begin and complete their voter registration process, including biometric capture, using their personal devices without visiting an INEC office.INEC stated that the online 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.
The Commission urged all eligible Nigerians who have not yet registered to take advantage of the extended registration period and the newly introduced online registration option.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a credible, inclusive and accessible voter registration process while leveraging technology to improve citizens’ participation in Nigeria’s electoral system.
The announcement was contained in a statement signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), on 3 July 2026.
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