The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the physical phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise across the country.
This phase, which began today (Monday), follows the online pre-registration launched on August 18, 2025. According to figures released by the commission, no fewer than 5,965,451 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are yet to be collected nationwide.
The uncollected cards are spread across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Lagos State tops the list with 845,225 unclaimed PVCs, followed by Oyo with 515,254, Ogun with 410,281, Osun with 360,794, and Kano with 327,177.
Other states with high backlogs include Ondo (295,856), Rivers (251,418), and Delta (232,183). Meanwhile, states such as Anambra (31,690), Ekiti (29,595), and Bauchi (37,169) recorded comparatively lower figures.
INEC explained that the ongoing CVR exercise will enable eligible Nigerians not only to register but also to collect unclaimed PVCs, transfer voter registration within or across states, and replace lost or damaged cards.
The exercise is taking place at 811 designated centres, including all 774 local government offices and state headquarters. Registration will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, and is open to Nigerian citizens who are at least 18 years old and have never registered before.
To boost participation, INEC has launched a nationwide sensitisation campaign stressing that “voting begins with being on the register.” Special provisions have also been made to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
In addition, the commission’s online portal — www.cvr.inecnigeria.org — provides services such as pre-registration, PVC status checks, voter information transfer, replacement of lost or damaged cards, and updates of personal details.
With millions of PVCs still uncollected, INEC is urging Nigerians to take advantage of the exercise, noting that the power to influence governance begins with securing a voter card.
