Over 1.37 Million Nigerians Engage in INEC’s Online Voter Pre-Registration Within First Week
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reported a remarkable surge in online voter pre-registration, with more than 1.37 million Nigerians completing the process during the initial week of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. This milestone was announced by Mr. Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, in a statement released from the commission’s Abuja headquarters.
Launch and Participation Overview
The digital pre-registration portal was officially launched on Monday, August 18, 2024. By Sunday, August 24, a total of 1,379,342 Nigerians had successfully registered online, marking a significant step towards enhancing voter accessibility and engagement ahead of upcoming elections.
Demographic Insights and Regional Distribution
INEC’s initial data release offers a detailed demographic analysis of the registrants, including their state of residence, gender, age brackets, professions, and disability status. Osun State emerged as the frontrunner, contributing 393,823 registrants, which represents 28.51% of the total online pre-registrations. Lagos State followed with 222,205 registrations (16.11%), while Ebonyi State recorded the lowest participation, with just 261 individuals (0.02%).
Gender distribution reveals a slight female majority, with women accounting for 52.04% (717,856) of registrants, compared to 47.96% (661,846) men. The youth demographic dominates the registration figures, as 62.37% (860,286) of participants fall within the 18 to 34 age range, underscoring the growing political engagement among younger Nigerians.
Occupational and Disability Representation
Students constitute the largest occupational group among registrants, making up 27.15% (374,534) of the total. Additionally, 1.96% (27,089) of those registered identified as persons living with disabilities, reflecting INEC’s commitment to inclusive voter registration.
Transparency and Accessibility Measures
To ensure transparency, INEC has published comprehensive registration data on its official website and affiliated platforms. Beyond the online system, physical registration centers have been activated nationwide, with 811 locations across states and local government areas available to accommodate individuals who prefer or require in-person registration.
Mr. Olumekun emphasized that these centers provide an alternative for those unable to access the digital portal, allowing them to complete their registration seamlessly. This dual approach aims to maximize voter inclusion and convenience.
Eligibility and Legal Guidelines
The ongoing CVR exercise is exclusively open to Nigerian citizens aged 18 and above who have not previously registered to vote. The commission strongly warns against multiple registrations, which are illegal and punishable by law.
Registered voters, however, are permitted to apply for inter-state or intra-state transfers and can request replacement voter cards if theirs are lost or damaged during this period.
Registration Timeline and Advisory
The registration window will remain open until August 30, 2026, providing ample time for eligible Nigerians to register. Nonetheless, INEC urges citizens to avoid procrastination, highlighting that past experiences show a surge in last-minute registrations that overwhelm centers and complicate the process.
“We encourage all prospective voters to register early to prevent congestion and ensure a smooth registration experience,” Olumekun advised.
Looking Ahead
With over 1.37 million online pre-registrations in just seven days, the CVR exercise demonstrates a promising trend towards increased voter participation and democratic engagement in Nigeria. As the registration period progresses, INEC continues to enhance its outreach and support mechanisms to facilitate broad-based voter inclusion across the country.
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