… Records over 2.5m online pre-registrations
BY CAROLINE AMEH
ABUJA/DAMATURU – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged Nigerians who have completed their online pre-registration for the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) to visit designated centres for physical biometric capturing, stressing that online pre-registration alone is invalid without in-person completion.
This was contained in a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Sam Olumekun, on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to the commission, the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which commenced on August 18, 2025, has so far recorded 2,532,062 online pre-registrations as at August 31.
Out of this figure, 48.12% are male and 51.88% are female, with a majority (63.29%) between the ages of 18 and 34. Students account for 25.57% of those who registered online.
Olumekun explained that while the online portal has eased access for Nigerians at home and abroad, registrants must complete the process in person at any of INEC’s 811 designated State and Local Government registration centres nationwide, where fingerprints and facial biometrics will be captured.
“For the avoidance of doubt, all online pre-registrants are required to appear physically to complete the process in our centres, without which the online process alone is invalid,” he stated.
He disclosed that since the commencement of in-person registration on August 25, a total of 72,274 Nigerians had registered as at August 29.
Of the number, 49.29% are male and 50.71% are female, while 75.71% fall between 18 and 34 years of age. Students made up 42.83% of the total.
The Commission assured citizens that registration is ongoing in all 811 centres across the country from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday to Friday.
It further noted that detailed breakdowns of registration by state, gender, age, occupation, and disability status have been uploaded on its official website and social media platforms.
Meanwhile, in Yobe State, INEC has sought stronger collaboration with journalists to enhance voter education and publicity.
The new Head of Voter Education and Publicity at the commission, Alhaji Nuhu Ibrahim, made the call during a courtesy visit to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Damaturu on Tuesday.
Ibrahim said his visit was aimed at familiarising himself with journalists in the state and fostering cooperation for effective dissemination of electoral information.
He stressed the importance of closer working relations with the media to ensure citizens are properly informed about registration and other INEC activities.
“I felt it necessary to meet with you, so we can see one another and strengthen collaboration. With your cooperation, we can work efficiently to enlighten the public on our activities,” Ibrahim stated.
He assured journalists of openness and timely sharing of information, while appealing for the same support accorded to his predecessor.
Responding, Mr. Rajab Ismail, Chairman of NUJ Yobe Council, welcomed Ibrahim and pledged the union’s readiness to support INEC in its mandate.
He described the media as a critical partner in the electoral process but urged the commission to give timely notice of assignments and events to enable effective coverage, especially as some reporters operate from outside Damaturu.
“Our role is to educate, inform, entertain and set an agenda for the public. We assure you of our full support, but timely communication is important for effective collaboration,” Ismail said.
INEC commended citizens for their enthusiasm towards the ongoing registration exercise and acknowledged organisations mobilising civic participation, while reaffirming its commitment to working with journalists across the country to deepen voter awareness and strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process.
