Youth and Women Power Nigeria’s Surging Online Voter Registration Boom

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reported that 1.379 million Nigerians completed online pre-registration for voters cards during the first week of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which ran from August 18 to 24, 2025. This marks a significant early uptake in voter participation ahead of the 2027 general elections [1]. The online process is part of a broader national effort to ensure inclusive and updated electoral rolls, with INEC emphasizing the importance of accurate demographic representation in its voter database [2].

Osun State emerged as the highest-performing state with 393,269 registrations, accounting for 28.51 percent of the national total. Lagos State followed closely with 222,205 registrations, representing 16.11 percent, while Ogun State recorded 132,823 pre-registrations (9.63 percent). The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) contributed 107,682 registrations, making up 7.81 percent of the overall number [1]. These figures underscore the concentration of voter engagement in major urban and economic centers, particularly in the southwest and central regions.

The North West and North Central regions also demonstrated strong participation, with states like Kebbi (35,009), Kaduna (61,592), and Niger (24,818) registering notable numbers. However, the South East region lagged behind, with Ebonyi reporting only 261 registrations (0.02 percent), the lowest in the country. Imo (481) and Enugu (484) also recorded minimal figures, while Abia (772) remained the only state in the region with a relatively higher number [2].

INEC noted a balanced gender distribution, with 661,846 (47.96 percent) male registrants and 717,856 (52.04 percent) female registrants. The majority of the registrants were young adults aged 18 to 34, totaling 860,286 (62.37 percent), highlighting the growing youth demographic in Nigeria’s electoral process [2]. Additionally, the commission recorded 374,534 (27.15 percent) students and 27,089 (1.96 percent) persons with disabilities, emphasizing the inclusivity of the registration drive.

Following the online pre-registration phase, INEC commenced the physical registration process on August 25, 2025, across 811 centers nationwide, including local government offices and state headquarters. Both new applicants and those who pre-registered online are required to complete the process in person, where biometric data will be captured [1]. The commission also clarified that individuals can transfer their registration within or across states, and replace lost or damaged cards under the CVR framework.

The exercise is scheduled to continue until August 30, 2026. INEC has called on citizens to register early to avoid the usual surge in registrations near the deadline and to ensure smooth operations at the centers. The online portal — www.cvr.inecnigeria.org — continues to offer services such as pre-registration, PVC status checks, and information updates [1].

Source:

[1] Lagos, Osun top list as 1.3 million register for PVCs online (https://punchng.com/lagos-osun-top-list-as-1-3-million-register-for-pvcs-online/)

[2] INEC: Osun, Lagos, Ogun top CVR online registration (https://thenationonlineng.net/inec-osun-lagos-ogun-top-cvr-online-registration/)