By Joy Odor – Reportcircle News
Nigeria’s electoral machinery shifted into a new gear on Wednesday as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) formally announced the end of the first phase of the 2025 nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), drawing the curtain on a mass civic rush that saw nearly 10 million Nigerians attempt to sign up for voting.
In a statement issued in Abuja, INEC confirmed that the first quarter of the CVR exercise covering online pre-registration and physical registration will officially close on December 10, 2025, marking a critical checkpoint in the country’s march toward future elections.
The Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, said the exercise, which kicked off with online pre-registration on August 18 and expanded to physical registration on August 25, has recorded massive nationwide participation.
Yet, behind the impressive figures lies a sobering twist: out of 9,891,801 online pre-registrations, only 2,572,054 Nigerians have successfully completed their registration as of November 28, 2025.
The breakdown shows 1,503,832 online completions and 1,068,222 physical registrations, exposing a wide gap between intention and final validation.
With the first phase closing, INEC is immediately activating the next legal step, the public display of the Register of Voters for Claims and Objections, scheduled to run from December 15 to 21, 2025 across all Local Government Offices where registration took place.
Citing Section 19 of the Electoral Act 2022, Eta-Messi urged Nigerians who newly registered, transferred voting locations, or updated personal details to seize the narrow one-week window to verify their records, correct errors, and challenge the inclusion of ineligible or deceased persons.
“This stage is critical to the integrity of the voters’ register,” the Commission warned, signaling that civic vigilance, not just registration, now holds the key to electoral credibility.
INEC also confirmed that voter registration remains suspended in Anambra State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) due to ongoing electoral activities.
According to the Commission, fresh dates for resumption in both areas will be announced later, leaving thousands of potential voters temporarily locked out of the process.
Looking ahead, INEC disclosed that the second phase of the nationwide CVR will resume on January 5, 2026, aligning with its previously released electoral timetable.
Reaffirming the Commission’s stance, Eta-Messi said INEC remains “fully committed to delivering a credible, transparent, and inclusive Register of Voters,” while calling on Nigerians to sustain cooperation as the country strengthens the foundations of its democracy.
The figures released reveal both promise and pressure: millions are eager to participate in Nigeria’s democratic process, yet only a fraction have fully navigated the registration maze.
As the register heads into public scrutiny next week, the coming days will test how well Nigerians and INEC can translate mass enthusiasm into a clean, trusted voter roll.
In the race toward Nigeria’s next electoral cycle, December 10 now stands as the first major checkpoint and the nation’s democratic ledger is officially under audit.
