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From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kebbi has disclosed plans to extend the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise to all wards and registration areas in all local government areas in the state.
It also urged stakeholders to intensify sensitisation efforts to ensure inclusive participation in the ongoing 2nd phase of the exercise.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Alhaji Abubakar Dambo, said this during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the INEC state Headquarters in Birnin Kebbi, yesterday
Dambo said about 80 percent of prospective voters had initiated their registration online but expressed concern that many have failed to complete the process through the mandatory physical (biometric) capture. “Online registration without physical capture is not registration; it is incomplete. We cannot do it alone. We need the support of all stakeholders to achieve an all-inclusive voter registration.”
Dambo said the exercise would be conducted at Registration Area Centres (RACs)/wards in each local government area from February 2 to April 10. “Thereafter, the exercise would continue at the LGA offices and the state headquarters during the final week, from April 13 to April 17.
“During the exercise at the registration area centres/wards, a timetable will be made available at all LGA offices to guide prospective registrants on when and where the exercise will take place in each LGA.
“The exercise will be conducted on working days only, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. daily, excluding weekends and public holidays.”
Dambo listed the categories of eligible participants as new registrants who have attained the age of 18 or are above 18 but have never registered.
Registered voters who experienced accreditation challenges during the last election and need to update their photographs or fingerprints are also included.
“Others are registered voters seeking reprints of lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and voters requesting transfer to other locations. “Also included are those seeking to update personal information such as name, address, or gender; and those who wish to correct errors in their details.”
The REC noted that all the activities could be completed online through the INEC registration portal except for new registrations and cases of accreditation difficulties during the last election, which require physical capture.
According to him, a detailed timetable will also be displayed at INEC offices at both the state and LGA levels.
Dambo, therefore, urged eligible Nigerians who have attained the age of 18 and are yet to register, to take advantage of the exercise.
“The commission is committed to ensuring that no qualified voter is disenfranchised,” he said.
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He urged voters who encountered accreditation challenges during the last general elections to visit INEC offices for clarification and resolution.
Dambo said the CVR exercise would cover voter transfer, updating of personal information, correction of details, and replacement of defaced or damaged PVCs.
“INEC has also provided an online portal to facilitate some of these processes, but physical validation remains compulsory.”
He appealed to traditional rulers, security agencies, the media, political party officials, civil society organisations, and voters to support the commission by sensitising their communities on the importance of completing the registration process and collecting PVCs.
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that all eligible citizens are registered and in possession of their Permanent Voter Cards.”
Dambo reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to conducting a credible, transparent, free, and fair voter registration and electoral process.
He assured stakeholders of the commission’s readiness to collaborate with them to achieve the goal.
The meeting brought together representatives of political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, development partners, and the media.
INEC had earlier launched an online pre-registration exercise on August 18, 2025, before commencing physical registration at designated centres nationwide on August 25, 2025.
In his remark, Kebbi State Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Muhammad Nasir Karofi, urged the REC to adopt rotational of the registration exercise ward after ward in each council to allow massive registration by the electorates.
He also advised the politicians to mobilise all the citizens, not only their own people, stressing that nobody knows who might vote for them during election day.
Earlier, representative of the Emir of Gwandu, the Waziri Gwandu, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar commended the Commission for the meeting and the ongoing registration exercise.
Commissioner for information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed represented by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Saliu Al-Kasim Gunabi informed stakeholders that the ministry had translated the awareness jingle INEC sent to local languages and placed them on various media and social media platforms for public consumption on the CVR exercise.
Chairman of IPAC in the state, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim, urged the commission to consider citizens who were indisposed or hospitalized during the registration exercise.
The meeting was attended by heads of security agencies, political parties and other stakeholders in the state.
