INEC records 3.44m new voters in second phase CVR

ABUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recorded a total of 3,441,121 completed registrations in the ongoing second phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

According to the Week 13 update released by the commission on Wednesday in Abuja, the figure comprises both online pre-registrations and physical walk-ins at various centres nationwide as of April 3.

A breakdown of the data shows that 2,068,384 citizens completed their pre-registration online, while 1,372,737 voters opted for physical registration.

State-by-state figures indicated that Jigawa leads with 201,047 registrations, representing 5.84 percent of the total.

Lagos followed with 181,095 registrants, while Kano ranks third with 177,681.

The update further highlights strong youth participation, with citizens aged between 18 and 34 accounting for 2,354,768 registrations, representing 68.43 percent of the total.

In terms of gender distribution, females constitute the majority with 1,922,143 registrants, representing 55.86 percent, while males account for 1,518,978, representing 44.14 percent.

Occupational data shows that students form the largest bloc of new voters at 1,235,931 (35.92 percent), followed by those engaged in business with 701,912 (20.40 percent), and farming and fishing with 615,967 (18.28 percent).

The commission also disclosed that 48,330 of the new registrants are Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

INEC explained that the 3,441,121 figure remains provisional, pending data clean-up during the claims and objections period, after which the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) will be deployed.

The commission noted that voter registration remains suspended in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in compliance with Section 9 (6) of the Electoral Act 2022, following the Area Council Election held on February 21.

It, however, urged eligible Nigerians who are yet to register to visit its official CVR portals to complete their registration.