INEC to Begin Year-Long Voter Registration on August 25

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed August 25, 2025 as the commencement date for its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which will run for one year ahead of the 2026 general elections.

Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, confirmed the development in an interview with Channels Television. He explained that the exercise will be conducted both online and at designated physical centers nationwide.

“The online registration is not just for a week as some assume” Oyekanmi clarified. “It will run side by side with the in-person registration starting August 25, and it will continue for a whole year.”

According to him, INEC has designated 811 registration centers, including all 774 local government offices and state headquarters, to ensure accessibility. The full list of centers has been published on the commission’s website, while a dedicated contact center has been set up to handle inquiries.

The exercise is open to Nigerians who have turned 18 and those who have never registered before. However, Oyekanmi strongly warned against multiple registrations.

“It is against the law to register more than once. If you do, our system will flag you, and it is punishable under the law” he cautioned.

He further urged citizens to register early and avoid last-minute rushes.
“With a whole year available, there is ample time. Don’t wait until July next year or the final weeks. That only creates unnecessary pressure on our offices, and we don’t want a situation where postponements will be considered” he said.