The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially commenced the second phase of its nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. This critical step allows eligible Nigerians to sign up for their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), transfer their voting locations, or update their personal information in the electoral database.
Key Dates and Registration Figures
The new registration phase began on Monday, January 5, 2026. This follows the conclusion of the first phase, which ended on December 10, 2025. The initial online pre-registration portal was launched on August 18, 2025, with physical registration at designated centres following a week later on August 25, 2025.
INEC has released impressive statistics from the first phase. A total of 9,891,801 Nigerians began the registration process online. Out of this number, 2,572,054 registrations were fully completed as of November 28, 2025. This final figure breaks down into 1,503,832 online completions and 1,068,222 physical enrolments.
Statutory Activities and Current Suspensions
The commission used the break between phases to conduct mandatory legal activities. As required by the Electoral Act 2022, the provisional voters' register was displayed for public scrutiny from December 15 to 21, 2025. This allowed citizens to make claims, report objections, or correct errors.
INEC is urging all eligible citizens who missed the first phase to seize this new opportunity. The commission also advised those who registered earlier to verify their details and report any discrepancies.
However, there are important exceptions. The CVR exercise remains temporarily suspended in Anambra State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) due to ongoing electoral activities. INEC promised to announce new dates for registration in these areas soon.
Labour Party Protests Exclusion in FCT
Meanwhile, the commission faced protests at its Abuja headquarters. Members of the Labour Party (LP) demonstrated against the exclusion of their candidates from the upcoming FCT Area Council elections, scheduled for February 21, 2026.
The protesters, carrying placards with messages like "INEC, upload Labour Party candidates" and "Obey court order", described the omission as a deliberate act of disenfranchisement. They referenced a court order in the party's favour and vowed to remain at the INEC office until it is obeyed.
Addressing the crowd, INEC National Commissioner Abdullahi Abdul Zuru acknowledged the complexity of "conflicting court orders". He assured the protesters he would personally hand their petition to the INEC Chairman and that the commission would act within the confines of the law.
The Publicity Secretary of the LP in the FCT, Eyisi Okey Nwoke, who led the protest, reiterated that Julius Abure remains the party's recognised National Chairman. He insisted that INEC, as an independent body, must include the Labour Party on the ballot for the council polls.
The resumption of voter registration is a pivotal moment for Nigeria's democratic process, even as it navigates the challenges of political inclusion and legal compliance.
