The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that it will begin a new round of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) nationwide on August 18, 2025, as part of its preparation for the 2027 general elections.

This announcement came from Professor Sam Egwu, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for Benue State, during a briefing in Makurdi. He explained that the CVR is required by the constitution and is mainly to register Nigerians who have turned 18 years old since the last election in 2023.

The registration will begin with an online pre-registration process through the INEC website. After that, physical (in-person) registration will start on August 25, 2025, and will take place at INEC Area Offices and other approved locations in all 36 states and the FCT. The physical registration will run Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Professor Egwu said that the registration is open to first-time voters and also those who couldn’t register earlier for reasons such as being abroad, in prison, or uninterested at the time. Others who need to replace lost or damaged PVCs, correct personal details, or transfer their registration to a different location can also take part in the exercise.

He also warned Nigerians not to pay anyone or offer bribes to register. He advised people to take advantage of the early days of the registration to avoid long queues or missing out later.

The commissioner added that arrangements are being made to ensure that internally displaced persons (IDPs) will not be excluded. However, the end date for the registration has not been set yet. INEC will announce it later to allow time for proper processing of the data.