INEC Opens Final Voter Registration Window May 11 — Last Chance Before 2027

Nigerians who missed the earlier windows to register as voters now have one more shot. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the third and final phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will begin on May 11, 2026, and run through July 10, 2026.

Why the Exercise Was Suspended

Phase two of the CVR was suspended on April 17 to allow INEC to clean up the voter register following its publication for claims and objections. That process has now concluded, and the commission says it is ready to resume.

The announcement came from Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC’s Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Who Should Come Out

INEC is targeting several groups with this final phase:

First-time registrants who are 18 or older and have not yet registered. Nigerians who tried to register during earlier phases but were unable to complete the process. Already-registered voters who want to transfer their registration to a new location, replace lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), or correct errors in their biodata.

INEC says those seeking transfers or biodata corrections can use its online portal or visit any state or local government office nationwide.

The Voter Display Exercise

After registration closes on July 10, INEC will display the voters’ register for claims and objections from July 23 to July 29, 2026. This is the statutory window for Nigerians to check the register and flag errors before it is finalised.

Why You Should Not Wait

This is the last phase. Once July 10 passes, INEC will not be running another registration window before the 2027 general elections. The commission has been consistent on that point. If you are not on the register by then, you are not voting in 2027.

With Nigeria’s political scene heating up — mass defections, emerging parties, and growing competition ahead of next year’s polls — being on the voter register is the baseline requirement for anyone who wants a say in what comes next.

Sources: Guardian Nigeria, Punch, Daily Trust, Radio Nigeria Lagos