The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the suspension of the online pre-registration option in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
According to a statement issued late Friday by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, the online CVR option will be suspended from Monday, September 15, 2025.
Olumekun explained that the move followed the commission’s approval to devolve the ongoing voter registration from its offices to ward level across the nation’s capital.
He said the devolved registration exercise would run from Monday, September 29 to Wednesday, October 8, 2025, in all 62 wards of the FCT, in addition to the FCT headquarters and the six Area Council offices — bringing the total number of registration centres to 69.
“This decision is consistent with INEC’s policy as we approach major off-cycle elections in the territory,” Olumekun noted, recalling that similar steps were taken before the Edo and Ondo governorship elections in 2024 and, most recently, ahead of the November 8, 2024 governorship poll in Anambra State.
He stressed that the online pre-registration option would be suspended to enable all pre-registrants to complete their registration at designated physical centres. “Without completing the process in person, online registration alone is invalid,” he warned.
Olumekun also reminded FCT residents that voter registration will be suspended on October 8, 2025, in compliance with Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022, which requires INEC to end voter registration not later than 90 days before an election.
The FCT Area Council elections are scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026.
According to him, both online and in-person registration will resume after the elections and continue until August 2026, when the nationwide CVR will be suspended ahead of the 2027 general elections, as earlier announced by the commission.
Olumekun urged all eligible citizens who have not registered to take advantage of the ward-level exercise. He also advised registered voters to use the period to transfer their registration to the FCT or within the FCT where necessary.
“However, no person should register more than once, as double or multiple registration is a punishable offence under the law,” he cautioned.
He added that the list and addresses of all the CVR centres have been uploaded to INEC’s website and other official platforms for public information.
