For all its worth, that deadline ends today.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has insisted that the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will end today, July 26, resisting calls from opposition political parties and civil society organisations for an extension ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The electoral body said the registration window would close as scheduled on Sunday, July 26, 2026, urging all eligible Nigerians who have yet to register to take advantage of the remaining hours before the deadline.
In a notice posted on its official X account on Saturday, INEC announced that designated registration centres across the country would operate from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
“Your future won’t wait. Neither should you. The Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ends Sunday, 26 July 2026,” the commission stated.
INEC advised prospective voters to complete their registration through its online CVR portal or visit any designated INEC office or registration centre nationwide for physical registration and assistance.
The commission’s position comes amid mounting pressure from opposition parties and civil society groups, which argued that millions of eligible Nigerians risk being excluded from the 2027 elections if the exercise is not extended.
Defending its decision, INEC explained that the Electoral Act 2022 requires voter registration, updates and revision of the voters’ register to end at least 90 days before an election. According to the commission, the period is necessary to verify registrants’ data, print Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and complete other critical logistical preparations.
The electoral umpire also noted that the law mandates the public display of the provisional voters’ register to allow citizens to file claims and objections, enabling errors, duplications and omissions to be corrected before the final register is certified.
INEC maintained that adhering to the timetable is essential to completing these statutory processes and ensuring the credibility of future elections.
The commission further disclosed that 2,970,257 eligible Nigerians had successfully registered during Phase III, Week Nine of the exercise, based on completed online and physical registrations recorded as of July 17, 2026.
Meanwhile, INEC confirmed that the CVR exercise remains suspended in Osun State ahead of the forthcoming governorship election, in compliance with Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022, which prohibits voter registration within the stipulated period before an election.
