The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that over 1.37 million Nigerians have completed their online pre-registration for Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) within the first week of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
The online phase, which ran from August 18 to 24, 2025, recorded massive participation across several states. According to INEC, Osun State topped the chart with 393,269 registrations, representing 28.5% of the national total. Lagos followed closely with 222,205 registrations, amounting to 16.1%. Other leading states include Ogun with 132,823 registrants, the Federal Capital Territory with 107,682, Oyo with 66,951, Kaduna with 61,592, and Kogi with 58,546.
In contrast, some regions recorded very low participation. Ebonyi State registered just 261 applicants, the lowest figure nationwide, while Enugu and Imo had 484 and 481 registrations respectively. Abia recorded 772 applicants, further highlighting the South-East as the region with the weakest turnout during the online phase.
Other states recorded mixed levels of participation, with Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Bayelsa collectively contributing modest figures. In the North, Kano registered just over 10,000 applicants, Katsina had 11,004, while Borno led the North-East with 21,045 registrations. Following the conclusion of the online phase, INEC has commenced the physical registration exercise at 811 centers across the country. This stage requires all applicants, including those who pre-registered online, to appear in person for biometric capture in order to complete the voter registration process.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a smooth and inclusive registration exercise, urging Nigerians to take advantage of the ongoing CVR to secure their PVCs ahead of future elections.
