The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in Lagos State will now be conducted at the ward level, in a move designed to improve access and participation ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a press conference in Yaba on Tuesday, Lagos Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Ayobami Salami, said the commission had approved the devolution of voter registration from Local Government Areas to Registration Areas across the state.
Salami explained that INEC Voter Enrolment Devices would be rotated among the wards from 2 February to 10 April, covering a 50-day period. Registration activities would then return to LGA offices for a final week, from 11 to 17 April.
He said the initiative was aimed at reducing overcrowding at registration centres and ensuring that eligible voters, particularly those at the grassroots, were not excluded.
“This adjustment brings the registration process closer to the people,” Salami said, adding that it would enhance efficiency, transparency and public trust in the electoral system.
He confirmed that multiple registration centres, including INEC facilities and other approved venues, had been designated across the wards, with operational details to be made available through official communication channels.
According to Salami, the CVR exercise remains free and open to all Nigerians aged 18 and above. He noted that the second phase of registration, running from 5 January to 17 April, follows a successful first phase in Lagos.
During the initial phase, the state recorded 139,251 registrations, including over 126,000 first-time voters and more than 12,000 transfers. Data released by INEC showed that women formed the majority of new registrants, while young people between 18 and 39 years accounted for nearly two-thirds of those registered.
The REC called on political parties, civil society organisations, the media and community leaders to intensify mobilisation efforts, particularly among youths, women and persons with disabilities. He stressed the media’s role in voter education and combating misinformation.
At a subsequent stakeholders’ forum, participants called for additional registration devices, further decentralisation, improved accessibility for persons with disabilities and the extension of CVR activities to weekends.
Responding on behalf of the commission, INEC officials assured stakeholders that the commission would review the concerns raised and implement measures to ensure inclusive and credible voter registration across Lagos State.
