INEC’s CVR extension boosts voter registration in Rivers

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recorded a jump in voter registration in Rivers State following the two-week extension of the third phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

INEC had extended the CVR exercise nationwide by two weeks, moving the deadline from the initial July 10, 2026, in a bid to ensure the participation of eligible citizens who had not yet registered.

Geraldine Ekelemu, Head of Voter Education and Publicity at the commission’s office in Port Harcourt, said the agency has recorded a steady increase in fresh voter registrations and requests for voter transfers since the extension was announced.

She attributed the increase to residents taking advantage of the additional time granted by the commission.

Ekelemu, however, urged eligible citizens not to wait until the final days of the exercise, warning that last-minute turnout often results in avoidable congestion and delays.

She said, “From the feedback we are getting, people are happy that the date was extended, so it is giving opportunity for others to get registered. The only worry and concern is that we do not want them to relax again because an additional two weeks have been given.”

Ekelemu was perhaps referring to the slow pace at which eligible Rivers voters had earlier responded to the CVR exercise.

INEC in December 2025 said it registered about 67,307 new voters between August and November 2025 as part of the on-going exercise in Rivers State.

Stakeholders in the state, including Gabriel Yomere, professor and then Resident Electoral Commissioner for Rivers State, and Abednego Benjamin, Chairman of the state chapter of Booth Party, described the number as unimpressive given the overall population of the state.

Yomere and Benjamin argued that, given its population, the state should be expecting a total voter strength of as much as five million.

At the last general election, Rivers State posted a voting strength of 3.3 to 3.5 million. About 112,950 registered voters were expected to participate in the recently held Rivers South-East Senatorial District bye-election.

Innocent Eku, a constitutional lawyer based in Port Harcourt, has commended INEC for digitizing the voter registration process.

He said the innovation will reduce the logistical challenges that have historically affected the voter registration exercise.

He said, “The progress INEC has made in digitalizing citizens’ registration to vote is commendable. Digitalization is one way to fast-track transparency in voter registration.”

Alongside the CVR extension, INEC had introduced an online self-service registration portal specifically for eligible first-time voters. The system allows eligible citizens to initiate and complete their voter registration process, including biometric capture, using personal devices without physically visiting an INEC office.