INEC Moves Voter Registration to Ward Level in FCT and Suspends Online Option
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a major change in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as part of preparations for the 2026 Area Council elections.
In a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, and released on Friday through INEC’s social media platforms, the commission confirmed that the registration process will now be devolved to ward level.
According to the release, the decision aligns with INEC’s policy of extending voter registration closer to the people, especially before major off-cycle elections. The commission recalled that similar steps were taken ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections last year, and more recently in Anambra State.
With the new arrangement, physical voter registration, which was previously available only at the FCT office and the six Area Council offices, will now be extended to all 62 wards across the FCT, making a total of 69 registration centres available to residents. This exercise will officially begin on Monday, September 29, 2025, and will end on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.
At the same time, INEC announced that it will suspend online pre-registration for voters in the FCT effective Monday, September 15, 2025. The commission explained that this is to allow pre-registered citizens to complete their registration in person at the designated centres, as online registration alone is invalid without biometric capture.
Quoting the Electoral Act 2022, INEC emphasized that the FCT voter registration will end on October 8, 2025, in compliance with Section 9(6), which mandates that voter registration must stop not later than 90 days before the election. The FCT Area Council elections are scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
INEC also provided clarity on the broader registration timeline. It stated that while the CVR in the FCT will close in October, voter registration nationwide will continue and only be suspended in August 2026, ahead of the 2027 General Elections. Registration activities will then resume after the FCT elections.
The commission appealed to eligible Nigerians to take full advantage of this opportunity. It encouraged those who have not yet registered to visit the nearest ward centre to do so, while also reminding citizens that they can transfer their voter registration within the FCT or from other parts of the country to the FCT. However, INEC strongly warned against multiple registrations, stressing that such acts remain punishable under the law.
To assist citizens, INEC confirmed that the full list and addresses of all 69 registration centres have been uploaded to its official website and shared on its platforms for easy access.
The statement ended with a call for mass participation. INEC urged residents of the FCT to make use of the newly devolved CVR centres and ensure they are properly registered before the deadline.
