The Independent National Electoral Commission has quietly resumed the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
The resumption took effect on Monday, January 5, and was confirmed by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Adedayo Oketola.
He simply stated that the information was correct, offering no additional commentary.
This move comes weeks after the first phase of the Continuous Voter Registration officially ended on December 10, 2025.
However, the sudden restart has caught many prospective voters off guard, especially those who assumed registration would remain paused for longer.
INEC had earlier opened online pre-registration for the exercise on August 18, 2025.
Physical registration at designated centres nationwide began shortly after, on August 25, 2025. The process attracted massive public interest across the country.
In a statement released in December, the commission disclosed that 9,891,801 Nigerians initiated the online pre-registration process during the first phase.
Out of that number, 2,572,054 registrations were fully completed nationwide as of November 28, 2025.
The completed figures included 1,503,832 online registrations and 1,068,222 registrations finalized through physical enrolment.
Moreover, the commission described the turnout as one of the most encouraging in recent years.
INEC explained that the pause between phases was not accidental. Instead, it was used to complete mandatory legal procedures required by law. These included public verification exercises to ensure transparency.
“In accordance with Section 19 of the Electoral Act 2022, the display of the register of voters for claims and objections was conducted from December 15 to 21, 2025, at local government area offices where the CVR exercise took place,” the commission stated.
Furthermore, INEC urged Nigerians who are yet to register to take advantage of the resumed exercise. Eligible citizens can now enroll, transfer their voting locations, or update their personal details without delay.
Those who registered earlier were also encouraged to verify their information. They were asked to report errors and raise objections to the inclusion of ineligible or deceased persons on the voters’ register.
However, CVR activities remain suspended in Anambra State and the Federal Capital Territory.
INEC said the suspension is due to ongoing electoral activities in both locations. New dates will be announced in due course.
