INEC Sets August 18 for Nationwide Voter Registration Ahead of 2027 Elections

INEC has announced nationwide Continuous Voter Registration starting August 18, targeting new voters, relocations, and damaged or lost PVCs.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday announced that the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will commence on August 18, marking a major step in preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The exercise, announced on the official X (formerly Twitter) of the Commission, would allow eligible Nigerians who have yet to register, or who need to update their voter information, to do so ahead of the polls.

INEC said the CVR would take place across all States and the Federal Capital Territory, targeting first-time voters, those who have changed locations, and individuals with lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

It stated that the CVR would commence on August 18th with online pre-registration of voters and would be followed by the in-person registration on 25th August 2025.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had during a visit to the Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the electoral body had resolved to partner the agency on voter mobilisation ahead of the nationwide CVR and November 8 Anambra Governorship election and the 2027 elections.

He said as the national election management body, the Commission was aware that its responsibility was multi-stakeholder and inter-agency in nature.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday announced that the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will commence on August 18, marking a major step in preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The exercise, announced on the official X (formerly Twitter) of the Commission, would allow eligible Nigerians who have yet to register, or who need to update their voter information, to do so ahead of the polls.

INEC said the CVR would take place across all States and the Federal Capital Territory, targeting first-time voters, those who have changed locations, and individuals with lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

It stated that the CVR would commence on August 18th with online pre-registration of voters and would be followed by the in-person registration on 25th August 2025.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had during a visit to the Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the electoral body had resolved to partner the agency on voter mobilisation ahead of the nationwide CVR and November 8 Anambra Governorship election and the 2027 elections.

He said as the national election management body, the Commission was aware that its responsibility was multi-stakeholder and inter-agency in nature.

“The nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) is scheduled to begin in about three weeks with the online pre-registration of voters on 18th August, followed by the in-person registration on 25th August 2025.”

Earlier, Issa-Onilu had said the mandate of NOA was to educate citizens on responsible citizenship, civic duties and creating awareness on election participation.

He said that building patriotic citizenship is more important than building roads and bridges.

Isa-Onilu noted that governments at all levels must be intentional in delivering policies that will trigger patriotism to the country from citizens.

He pointed out that patriotism to one’s country cannot be forced on citizens, nor can it be enforced by a piece of legislation, but rather it is a natural attractive force that can only be galvanised by good governance.

Issa-Onilu stated: “There has been a series of efforts in the past to galvanise Nigerians, to make us patriotic, but as it is said, you cannot enforce patriotism, and you cannot legislate it. You have to motivate it. Patriotism is like force, there must be an attraction. Which means that the country must be attractive.

“You must do things that must attract the citizens. Most times, such things are intangible. They are not things that we can see because they are psychological.

“We believe that when we are able to communicate government activities well, we will be able to galvanise Nigerians towards patriotism and shared values. It will make the work of INEC easier.”

“We have a president who understands what it means to have a united and cohesive citizenry. He says all the time that we are members of the same family, living in the same building, albeit different rooms. So whatever affects that vision, affects all of us.