The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially announced that the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will begin on August 18, 2025, starting with an online pre-registration phase.
This marks a significant step toward early electoral preparation ahead of the Anambra State governorship election on November 8, 2025, and the 2027 general elections.
The announcement was made by INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, during a courtesy visit by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to INEC’s headquarters in Abuja.
“The nationwide continuous voter registration is scheduled to commence in about three weeks, with the online pre-registration of voters scheduled for the 18th of August,” Prof. Yakubu stated.
He added that physical (in-person) registration would follow one week later, beginning August 25, 2025.
The voter registration drive forms part of INEC’s broader strategy to enhance civic participation and update the national voter register ahead of the upcoming elections.
Renewed Partnership Between INEC and NOA
During the visit, INEC and NOA reaffirmed their long-standing partnership, focusing on collaboration in voter education, public awareness, and the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to improve electoral processes.
Prof. Yakubu highlighted the importance of the meeting as part of INEC’s stakeholder engagement efforts, particularly with institutions that play a crucial role in grassroots mobilization.
“Our mandate of conducting elections and electoral activities cannot be effectively discharged without advocacy and sensitization of citizens, for which [NOA is] a central institution in Nigeria,” he said.
He applauded NOA for its innovative media outreach, including NOA TV, NOA Radio, and the AI-driven chatbot, CLHEEAN, which he noted have enhanced government-to-citizen communication.
AI Tools and Electoral Transformation
Prof. Yakubu praised the integration of AI-powered data management into electoral awareness campaigns, calling it a valuable tool for strategic communication. He stressed the need for continued voter mobilisation, especially among women, youth, and persons with disabilities, and encouraged NOA to expand collaboration with civil society groups, political parties, and the media.
NOA has also been granted a seat in the expanded Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) due to its central role in electoral engagement and community-based advocacy.
NOA’s Internal Reforms and Expansion
In his remarks, NOA Director-General Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu revealed that the agency is undergoing a major internal transformation. He noted a significant structural overhaul since his appointment, with the number of programme departments expanding from 3 to 8 within a broader framework of 16 total departments.
Among these is the newly created Department of Civic Values and Democracy Education, aimed at enhancing democratic engagement and civic literacy.
“We have revamped our outreach strategy using both traditional and digital tools, including weekly newsletters, AI-driven feedback mechanisms, and a network of over 818 local offices nationwide,” Issa-Onilu said.
With digital infrastructure and grassroots mobilisation strategies being enhanced by both INEC and NOA, the upcoming voter registration exercise is poised to be more inclusive, technologically advanced, and strategically targeted than ever before.
