Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise by two weeks and unveiled an online self-service registration platform for eligible first-time voters.The commission announced that the registration exercise, originally scheduled to end on July 10, 2026, will now continue until Sunday, July 26, 2026, following a review of the exercise and feedback from its state offices, political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders
.The extension and introduction of the online self-service platform were announced in a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mohammed Kudu Haruna.
INEC said the extension is aimed at giving more eligible Nigerians who are yet to register the opportunity to be included in the National Register of Voters ahead of future elections.In a significant digital innovation, the commission also announced the introduction of an online self-service registration option for first-time voters.
The platform will become operational on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, through the commission’s dedicated Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) portal.
According to INEC, the new system allows eligible citizens to initiate and complete their voter registration process, including biometric capture, using their personal devices without visiting an INEC office.The commission said the platform is equipped with robust identity verification, biometric validation and backend integrity checks to ensure the credibility and integrity of the voter register.
INEC urged all eligible Nigerians who have yet to register to take advantage of the extended registration period and the newly introduced online registration option.
The commission reiterated its commitment to delivering a credible, inclusive and accessible voter registration process while leveraging technology to improve citizens’ participation in Nigeria’s electoral process.It may be recalled that the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which commenced on August 18, 2025, was initially scheduled to end on July 10, 2026, but has now been extended to July 26, 2026.