Breaking: INEC Extends Voter Registration Exercise In Abuja After Public Outcry

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a four-day extension of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise at the ward level in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Originally scheduled to conclude on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, the registration will now run until Sunday, October 12, 2025.

The extension followed INEC’s Third Quarterly Meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) held on Tuesday, where electoral activities and field reports were reviewed. The decision was confirmed in a statement released on Wednesday by the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi.

“Following the review, the Commission approved a four-day extension of the ongoing ward-level CVR exercise in the FCT,” the statement read.

As of October 7, INEC disclosed that 55,346 new registrations had been captured across the territory. Of these, 38,528 were online pre-registrations, while 16,818 were completed physical registrations. The commission described the turnout as encouraging, crediting it to the success of bringing the exercise closer to communities.

“This turnout reflects the growing civic participation among residents and the effectiveness of devolving the exercise to the grassroots,” the statement added.

INEC also clarified that the online pre-registration option remains suspended in the FCT, noting that all pre-registered voters must finalize their registration in person at designated centres in line with the Electoral Act, 2022.

The commission urged eligible citizens to take advantage of the extension while warning that multiple registration is prohibited and punishable under the law.

Residents were further advised to check INEC’s official website and social media platforms for the full list of registration centres across the six Area Councils.

Preparations are ongoing for the FCT Area Council elections scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026. INEC has already released the final list of candidates from 17 political parties, with 68 positions up for grabs—six chairmanship seats and 62 councillorship slots across Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali, and Abaji councils.

The commission reiterated its commitment to conducting a free, fair, and credible election as campaigns intensify across the FCT.