Abuja, Nigeria — Nigeria’s electoral umpire has announced a two-week extension to the ongoing nationwide voter registration exercise, alongside the rollout of a new online self-service portal aimed at tech-savvy, first-time voters.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) deadline, originally set for 10 July, has been pushed back to Sunday, 26 July 2026.Officials stated the decision followed extensive consultations with political parties, civil society groups, and regional election offices, all of whom flagged the need for more time to accommodate unregistered citizens.
In a major shift toward digital integration, INEC will launch an online registration portal on Wednesday, 8 July. The new platform allows eligible first-time voters to complete the entire registration process—including the mandatory biometric capture—from their personal devices, eliminating the need to queue at local election offices. To address potential security vulnerabilities, the commission noted that the portal features built-in identity verification and automated backend integrity checks to prevent duplicate entries and safeguard the credibility of the national voter roll. Mohammed Haruna, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chair of the Information and Voter Education Committee in a statement urged citizens to utilize the extended window, reiterating the body’s commitment to widening democratic access through technology.
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