INEC Ends Voter Registration Amid Access Concerns

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially ended the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, with the deadline set for Sunday. INEC has stated there will be no extension, adhering to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates that voter registration must cease at least 90 days before an election for data clean-up and logistical preparations.

The commission urged eligible Nigerians to register before the deadline, utilizing either the online CVR portal or designated INEC offices. Since the commencement of the exercise, millions of new voters have registered.

However, significant concerns were raised by prospective registrants in major cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt, where many reported long wait times and issues such as equipment failures and network disruptions. Similar challenges were noted in rural areas, where limited registration centers and high transportation costs hindered participation.