• INEC rejects extension, insists deadline complies with Electoral Act
• ADC, SDP split over closure of voter registration
• Applicants decry glitches, delays on online registration portal
• Coalition cites court ruling, seeks extension of CVR
• Group warns closure could disenfranchise first-time voters
• Okechukwu urges INEC to prioritise credible polls
• Gunmen disrupt PVC distribution, cart away voter cards in Osun

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday ended the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, drawing mixed reactions from political parties, civil society groups and election stakeholders, who warned that technical glitches, security concerns and unresolved access challenges could undermine preparations for the 2027 general election.

The commission ruled out any extension of the exercise, insisting that the nationwide registration ended yesterday, despite appeals by opposition political parties and civil society organisations for more time.

It had urged eligible Nigerians who were yet to register to take advantage of the remaining hours before the registration window closed.

In a post on its official X handle the weekend, INEC reiterated that the exercise would end on Sunday, July 26 (yesterday), with designated registration centres operating from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

“Your future won’t wait. Neither should you,” the commission stated.

INEC also reminded prospective voters that they could complete the registration process online through its dedicated CVR portal or visit designated INEC offices and registration centres nationwide for physical registration.

The commission maintained that there would be no extension, stressing that the timeline is in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, which requires voter registration, updates and revisions to the register to be suspended at least 90 days before an election to allow for data clean-up, production of Permanent Voter Cards and other logistical preparations.

Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) differed over INEC’s decision to end the registration.

While the ADC faulted the closure, arguing that it should be a continuous process without deadlines, the SDP maintained that although INEC needed to suspend the exercise to prepare for the 2027 general election, registration itself should remain open.

The differing positions came amid growing concerns over whether the exercise succeeded in capturing the millions of eligible Nigerians expected to participate in the 2027 general election.

The ADC argued that Nigeria should have moved beyond what it described as the “mundane” idea of closing voter registration, insisting that every citizen with a valid National Identification Number (NIN) should have the right and opportunity to register and vote whenever it is convenient.

The SDP, however, said the commission needed to suspend the registration exercise for administrative purposes but should not permanently close the process.

Although the electoral commission insisted that the exercise would end as scheduled yesterday, many prospective voters remained uncertain about their registration status after battling technical glitches, overcrowded registration centres, poor internet connectivity, malfunctioning biometric machines and long waiting hours throughout the exercise.

The commission repeatedly urged eligible Nigerians to take advantage of the final day to register, transfer their registration, correct personal information or replace lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards. It also maintained that the electoral timetable left little room for another extension.

The closure of the exercise has renewed debate over whether enough Nigerians have been captured on the voters’ register.

While INEC said millions of new voters had registered since the exercise commenced, election stakeholders argued that the figures still fall short of the country’s growing voting-age population, particularly first-time voters who turned 18 after the 2023 general election.

Across many states, the exercise was marred by operational challenges. In major cities, including Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt, prospective registrants complained of spending several hours at registration centres, with many returning repeatedly because of equipment failures, network disruptions or inadequate personnel.

Similar concerns were raised in rural communities, where limited registration centres and transportation costs discouraged many eligible voters from participating.

The commission had earlier granted a two-week extension and introduced an online self-service registration portal to ease congestion and improve access. However, despite sustained appeals from stakeholders, INEC maintained that the deadline remained unchanged, explaining that it must proceed with data cleaning, removal of multiple registrations, compilation of the voters’ register, PVC production and other statutory activities ahead of the 2027 polls.

Reacting to the closure, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the commission should not have fixed a deadline for voter registration.
“It is not about asking INEC to extend the deadline. We do not believe there should be any deadline in the first instance. Nigerians with their NIN who have attained the voting age should be able to wake up at any time and register to vote. We need to move beyond this primitive way of doing things in this country,” he said.

Offering a different perspective, SDP National Secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye, said INEC needed to suspend the registration exercise to enable it to complete statutory preparations for the elections, but should allow registration to continue for future polls.

Explaining his position, Agunloye said: “INEC cannot leave the process open indefinitely to continue registering fresh voters. It needs time to plan, print the required ballot papers, process the voters’ register and allocate voters appropriately. By suspending registration at a particular period, those captured will be processed to vote in 2027. Others can continue to register afterwards, but they will understand that they cannot participate in that election because they missed the deadline.”

Agunloye further argued that a National Identification Number cannot be used as the sole basis for voting, noting that not every Nigerian with a NIN is eligible to vote because of age restrictions.

“For instance, not every Nigerian who has a NIN has attained the voting age of 18. A person may possess a NIN but still be ineligible to vote,” he said.

He cautioned that increasing the number of registered voters is only one aspect of strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process. He noted that the country continues to grapple with low voter turnout despite successive voter registration exercises.

Applicants lament glitches
MANY applicants said they were unable to complete their registrations because their applications remained pending on the platform.

Before the deadline, INEC had urged eligible Nigerians to complete the process.

“Time is running out, but there’s still an opportunity to make your voice count,” the commission wrote on X. “Complete your registration online or visit any INEC State or LGA Office before the deadline.”

However, the post attracted complaints from applicants who said they had encountered technical issues while using the portal.

Ahamdu Muhammad Bello Labani, a Political Science student at Shehu Shagari University of Education, shared what appeared to be a screenshot of his registration status and wrote: “Please, what’s wrong with you, INEC? This system is unfortunately inactive. I have been on this stage 4 days ago, and you said today is the deadline!”

Christian Ekoba, a disc jockey, said he applied to transfer his voter registration to another location and received an appointment to visit an INEC office on June 30.

“But I couldn’t find anyone in your office at Oghara but it is showing on my dashboard that the application has been completed, what do I do?” he asked.

Another applicant, Ibrahim Olayinka, also a disc jockey, wrote on X: “You guys should do better so many complaints, now you’re saying today is deadline while I’m searching for a centre LGA to finish my registration.”

Adeleke Olubanwo, Chief Executive Officer of Horndcrux Concept, said he had been waiting for a verification code for four days.

“This is where it has been stuck for over 5 days now,” he wrote.

Earlier on Saturday, Olubanwo had appealed to INEC to extend the registration deadline.

“@inecnigeria voters card registration site not functioning well since on Monday… It’s better the closing date is extended and improve your server for people to be able to get registered,” he posted.

Another applicant, Ifo Victor, questioned the commission’s handling of the registration process.

“INEC, you people should be truthful to yourselves. You don’t want citizens to register, physical registration is hell and the alternative platform (online registration you came up with is in shambles), I have been at this stage for the past 5 days, people are complaining,” he wrote.

Coalition urges INEC to extend voter registration for 2027 polls
THE Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM) has urged INEC to extend the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise and ensure full compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court by keeping voter registration open until at least 90 days before the 2027 General Elections.

In a formal letter delivered to the Chairman of INEC at the Commission’s headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, COPDEM drew attention to the judgment delivered on 22 November 2022 in Anaja Salmat & 3 Others v. INEC (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1342/2022).

In that decision, the Federal High Court held that voter registration should continue until 90 days before a general election in order to protect the constitutional voting rights of eligible Nigerians. The Court further ruled that the premature closure of voter registration could amount to an unreasonable exercise of INEC’s powers where a substantial number of eligible citizens remain unregistered.

COPDEM, therefore, expressed concern that ending the current registration exercise months before the constitutional deadline could disenfranchise millions of Nigerians and undermine the inclusiveness, credibility, and legitimacy of the 2027 electoral process.

The coalition noted that many citizens are still unable to register because of insecurity, displacement, poverty, inadequate registration centres, poor internet connectivity, transportation difficulties, and insufficient voter education.

It also observed that a significant number of young Nigerians will attain voting age before the 2027 elections, while many Nigerians currently residing abroad are expected to return home before the polls and should not be excluded from participating in the democratic process.

Group faults INEC over closure of voter registration, cites youth disenfranchisement
ALSO, the Convener of the Movement for Credible Elections (MCE), Wale Okunniyi, criticised INEC for ending the registration, arguing that the decision would disenfranchise thousands of young Nigerians who will attain the age of 18 before the 2027 general election.

Okunniyi said the closure of the registration exercise excluded eligible citizens who could not register because they had not reached the constitutional voting age before the deadline.

“We are not even talking about those who are already 18 and above but are yet to register. We are talking about those who, through circumstances beyond their control, could not register because they were below 18 as of Sunday but will become 18 on Monday and in the months ahead.

“What happens to them now that INEC has closed the exercise? It means they will be denied the opportunity to vote despite becoming constitutionally qualified before the election. That is unacceptable in a democracy,” he said.

He maintained that voter registration should remain a truly continuous exercise, as envisaged by law, to ensure that every Nigerian who becomes eligible before an election has the opportunity to participate in choosing the country’s leaders.

While acknowledging INEC’s need to compile and certify the final voters’ register ahead of the elections, Okunniyi argued that technological advancements should enable the commission to accommodate newly eligible voters much closer to election day without compromising the integrity of the register.

Okechukwu urges INEC to prioritise credible polls over internal party democracy
FORMER Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, yesterday urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Amupitan, to prioritise the conduct of free, fair and credible elections, arguing that credible polls remain the strongest safeguard against impunity within political parties.

Okechukwu made the call in response to the INEC chairman’s recent appeal to political parties to adhere strictly to the principles of internal democracy during a courtesy visit to former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, in Minna, Niger State.

In a statement he signed, the founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) noted that the INEC chairman had consistently raised the issue of internal democracy, having made similar remarks in Akwa Ibom in March 2026 and again in Abuja in June 2026.

While agreeing that internal democracy is essential, Okechukwu argued that political parties are more likely to respect democratic principles when elections are conducted in a transparent and credible manner.

“Whereas one agrees with the Chairman that strict observance of internal democracy within political parties is of paramount importance; the greatest incentive for political parties to uphold internal democracy is the consistent conduct of free, fair, and transparent elections by INEC,” he said.

According to him, political party leaders are more likely to present widely acceptable candidates when they are confident that elections will reflect the will of the electorate.

APC chieftain urges INEC to simplify PVC collection ahead of Osun poll
A CHIEFTAIN of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, yesterday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to simplify the process for collecting Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the state’s governorship election.

Oyintiloye expressed concern over the difficulties and stress experienced by eligible voters at various PVC collection centres. He appealed to the electoral umpire to make the exercise more seamless to boost voter turnout and enable more citizens to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

The former member representing Obokun State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly, in a statement, called on INEC to take urgent steps to address what he described as the frustration and challenges associated with PVC collection.

He also urged eligible voters not to be discouraged by the process, encouraging those yet to collect their PVCs to do so and turn out in large numbers to vote peacefully for candidates of their choice.

Gunmen disrupt PVC distribution in Osun, cart away voter cards
THE distribution of Permanent Voter Cards in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, was yesterday disrupted after armed hoodlums invaded an Independent National Electoral Commission distribution centre and reportedly carted away packs of voter cards.

The incident occurred at Oyinlola DC Primary School, Ward 2, where eligible voters had gathered to collect their PVCs ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

An eyewitness, who identified himself simply as Gbadebo, said panic broke out when about eight armed men stormed the venue and fired shots into the air, forcing INEC officials and prospective voters to flee.

He said the attackers headed straight for the area where the voter cards were being kept and escaped with several packs of PVCs.

“I was among those waiting to collect my PVC when the incident happened. The gunshots caused confusion and everyone ran in different directions. The attackers appeared to know exactly where the cards were kept and took away some of the packs,” he said.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, SP Abiodun Ojelabi, said the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, had condemned the attack and ordered an immediate investigation.

Low voter turnout stems from public distrust, APC chieftain says
A MEMBER of the All Progressives Congress, United States chapter, Khairat Olaore Animashaun-Ajiboye, has urged Nigerians to regard participation in the 2027 general election as a civic necessity, arguing that regardless of whether citizens vote or abstain, government policies formulated and implemented by elected officials have a direct impact on their daily lives.

She also urged political leaders to fulfil their campaign promises by implementing policies that would improve the living conditions of Nigerians.

Animashaun-Ajiboye attributed the declining turnout in elections to widespread public distrust of the political class, saying many citizens have become disillusioned because they believe their votes have little influence on electoral outcomes.

According to her, many eligible voters have become apathetic because they are convinced politicians will do whatever is necessary to retain power, regardless of the wishes of the electorate.

To reverse the trend, she proposed the inclusion of citizen-driven policy questions on ballot papers alongside elections, saying this would give voters a direct stake in governance and encourage greater participation without financial inducements.

She explained that such questions could seek the electorate’s views on issues that directly affect their daily lives, including taxation, public service delivery and local infrastructure.