Yobe leads N/East in new voters registration

The aggressive voter sensitisation campaign initiated by Governor Mai Mala Buni appears to be yielding significant results, as Yobe state has emerged among the top ten states nationally and recorded the highest number of new registrants in the Northeast geopolitical zone in the ongoing voter registration exercise.

This stellar performance was revealed in the official CVR State Pre-Registration Report released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The report showed that a total of 1,379,342 Nigerians successfully completed the online pre-registration process in the first week of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, held from August 18 to 24, 2025.

Yobe State registered a formidable 34,888 new voters online, a figure that not only secured its position as the undisputed leader in the North East but also placed it prominently on the national stage.

This performance far outpaced other states in its region, including Borno (21,045) and Bauchi (13,066). The high turnout is widely attributed to Governor Buni’s sustained advocacy and community engagement initiatives, which have emphasized the importance of voter registration for democratic participation.

Nationally, the top three states were Osun, with a commanding 393,269 registrations (28.51% of the total), followed by Lagos with 222,205 (16.11%), and Ogun with 132,823 (9.63%). The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, also showed strong engagement with 107,682 registrations.

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The report highlighted a significant disparity in registration numbers across the country. While states like Yobe, Lagos, and Osun saw massive turnouts, the South East region recorded alarmingly low figures. Ebonyi State registered only 261 individuals—the lowest in the nation. Other states in the region, like Enugu (484) and Imo (481), also showed minimal participation.

With the online pre-registration phase complete, INEC has now commenced the physical capture of registrants. The physical phase of the CVR began on Monday across all 811 designated centres in Nigeria, including the 774 Local Government Area offices and various state offices.

Both new applicants and those who completed their pre-registration online are required to appear in person at these centres to complete the process by having their photographs and fingerprints captured.

The commission reiterated that the exercise, which runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, is open only to Nigerian citizens who are at least 18 years of age and have never registered before.

The process also allows for:
transfers of voter registration within or across states. Replacement of lost or damaged Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and updates to personal information.

INEC has assured that arrangements are in place to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. Citizens can still use the commission’s online portal—www.cvr.inecnigeria.org—to check their PVC status, locate registration centres, or request other voter card-related services.