The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has halted its ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Ekiti and Osun states, in preparation for the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in those states. The suspension was announced in a statement issued in Abuja, covering the first week of phase III of the nationwide registration drive.
According to INEC, the decision aligns with Section 9 (6) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates that voter registration, updates, and revisions must cease no later than 90 days before any election. This legal requirement ensures that the voter register is finalized well ahead of polling day.
Registration Statistics for Week One of Phase III
The commission released data as of May 15, indicating that a total of 149,833 citizens successfully completed their registration during the first week of the current phase. Of these, 94,361 individuals completed their pre-registration online, while 55,472 opted for physical registration at designated centers.
INEC emphasized that these figures are preliminary and subject to a comprehensive data clean-up during the upcoming claims and objections period. This will be followed by the deployment of the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) to verify and authenticate all registrations.
State-by-State Breakdown
A review of state performance reveals that Kano State recorded the highest number of total registrants in week one, with 13,569 individuals, representing 9.06 percent of the national total. In contrast, Ebonyi State had the lowest turnout, with only 601 registrants, representing 0.40 percent, followed by Akwa Ibom with 976 registrants, representing 0.65 percent.
INEC urged eligible citizens in states not affected by the suspension to take advantage of the online portals or visit physical registration centers to register before the conclusion of the phase.
