Millions of eligible Nigerians have been handed another chance to get their voter cards after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced a two-week extension of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise nationwide.
The electoral body also unveiled a major technological upgrade that will allow first-time voters to complete their registration process, including biometric capture, directly from their phones, tablets and computers without visiting any INEC office.
The twin announcements were contained in a statement issued on Friday and signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
According to the Commission, the decision followed a review of the nationwide registration exercise and feedback received from state offices, political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.
The Commission explained that the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, which began on August 18, 2025, was initially scheduled to end on July 10, 2026.
However, INEC said it had approved an additional two weeks for the exercise, with the new closing date now fixed for Friday, July 24, 2026, to enable more eligible Nigerians to register ahead of future elections.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wishes to inform Nigerians that, following a review of the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration exercise and feedback received from its State Offices, political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders, the Commission has approved a two-week extension of the exercise,” the statement read.
The Commission said the extension reflects its commitment to ensuring that every eligible Nigerian is given a fair opportunity to be included in the National Register of Voters before future electoral activities.
In what could mark a significant shift in Nigeria’s voter registration process, INEC also announced the introduction of an online self-service registration option for first-time voters.
According to the electoral body, the new system will become operational on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, through the dedicated CVR portal: cvr.inecnigeria.org
INEC said the platform will allow eligible citizens to initiate and complete their voter registration process, including biometric capture, using their personal devices without physically visiting any of its offices.
The Commission added that the new technology has been equipped with multiple layers of protection to preserve the credibility of the voter register and prevent abuse of the system.
“The self-service option will enable eligible citizens to initiate and complete their voter registration process, including biometric capture, using their personal devices without having to physically visit an INEC office. The system incorporates robust identity verification, biometric validation and backend integrity checks designed to preserve the credibility and accuracy of the National Register of Voters,” the statement added.
INEC urged all eligible Nigerians who are yet to register to take advantage of both the extension and the newly introduced online registration platform.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to delivering a credible, inclusive and accessible voter registration process while continuing to deploy technology to improve citizens’ experience in Nigeria’s electoral system.
