INEC to Resume Continuous Voter Registration Nationwide August 18

By Iyojo Ameh

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will resume nationwide on August 18, 2025, for online pre-registration and August 25 for physical, in-person registration across the country.

Prof. Yakubu addressing RECs at the Commission’s Head office, Abuja

The INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, made this known on Tuesday during the second quarterly consultative meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

However, ahead of the upcoming governorship election in Anambra State, CVR in the state will commence next week, taking place simultaneously across all 326 electoral wards, in compliance with legal provisions to conclude registration at least 90 days before the election date.

Cross section of RECs

“The detailed timetable and locations of the CVR have already been made public by the Commission,” Yakubu said.

The Commission also unveiled its election calendar for the next one year, which includes five major elections between August 2025 and August 2026:

Bye-elections in 12 states – August 16, 2025

Anambra Governorship Election – November 8, 2025

FCT Area Council Elections – February 21, 2026

Ekiti Governorship Election – June 20, 2026

Osun Governorship Election – August 8, 2026

Yakubu confirmed that some preparatory activities for these polls have already commenced, including campaigns in Anambra, publication of election notices for Ekiti, and the conclusion of party primaries in the FCT.

Welcoming new National Commissioners and six recently appointed RECs, Yakubu stressed the importance of proactive leadership and full-time commitment by all electoral commissioners.

“You are full-time commissioners. There are policies and procedures that you must implement without waiting for directives from the headquarters,” he stated.

He urged RECs to intensify efforts in enhancing voter access, decongesting polling units, cleaning up the voters’ register, and improving engagement with electoral stakeholders at all levels.

The INEC Chairman also addressed growing concerns over Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022, which deals with the review of election results. He revealed that the Commission is finalizing a supplementary regulation to provide clearer guidance on how election declarations and returns can be reviewed.

“The document may be released as early as this week and will be uploaded to our website and other public platforms,” Yakubu said.

He emphasized that the meeting with RECs follows a series of recent consultations with political parties, civil society organisations, the media, and security agencies, and stressed the need for collective responsibility in delivering credible elections.

“Elections happen in the states, not in Abuja,” Yakubu reminded the RECs. “You are the managers of both personnel and resources, and your role is crucial to the success of our electoral process.”