The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has extended the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise at the ward level across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by four days, following an impressive turnout of new registrants.
The decision was taken during INEC’s Third Quarterly Meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners held on Tuesday, where the Commission reviewed the progress of ongoing electoral activities.
In a statement on Wednesday, Victoria Eta-Messi, Director of Voter Education and Publicity, said the registration exercise, initially set to end on October 8, 2025, will now continue until Sunday, October 12, 2025.
“Following the review, the Commission approved a four-day extension of the ongoing ward-level CVR exercise in the FCT,” Eta-Messi stated.
She revealed that as of October 7, 2025, a total of 55,346 new voter registrations had been recorded, including 38,528 online pre-registrations and 16,818 completed physical registrations.
According to her, the surge in participation reflects “the growing civic awareness among residents and the effectiveness of bringing the exercise closer to the grassroots.”
INEC reiterated that the online pre-registration option remains suspended in the FCT to ensure that all pre-registrants complete their registration in person at designated centres.
“This measure ensures the validity of records in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022,” Eta-Messi explained.
The Commission urged eligible residents who have not yet registered to take advantage of the extended timeline and also encouraged voters seeking transfers within or into the FCT to do so promptly.
However, INEC warned against multiple registrations, describing it as a punishable offence under Nigerian law. It also assured residents that the list and addresses of all registration centres remain available on its official website and social media handles.
Meanwhile, the FCT Area Council elections are slated for Saturday, February 21, 2026, with campaigns already underway. INEC recently released the final list of candidates from 17 political parties, featuring six chairmanship and 62 councillorship positions across the six area councils — Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali, and Abaji.
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