The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the commencement of the physical phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), which begins today (Monday) across Nigeria.
This phase followed the online pre-registration that commenced on August 18, 2025.
According to figures from the commission’s website and officials, no fewer than 5,965,451 Permanent Voter Cards remain uncollected across the country.
These unclaimed cards are spread across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
In Abia State, 171,626 PVCs remain uncollected, while in Adamawa State, there are 225,916. Akwa Ibom accounts for 158,795, and Anambra, comparatively lower, has 31,690. In Bauchi, there are 37,169 uncollected cards, with Bayelsa reporting 39,249. Benue State records a significant backlog of 170,586, among the highest nationwide.
Borno has 66,072 uncollected PVCs, while Cross River reports 93,667. In Delta, 232,183 cards are yet to be picked up, with Ebonyi at 45,851. Edo State accounts for 101,617, while Ekiti and Enugu report 29,595 and 117,404, respectively.
Gombe has 40,840 uncollected cards. In Imo, the figure stands at 101,003. Jigawa with 52,933, Kaduna reports 170,735, while Kano, one of the most populous states, has 327,177 unclaimed cards. Katsina and Kebbi record 55,274 and 51,870, respectively.
In Kogi, 99,494 PVCs remain uncollected, while Kwara has 158,653. Lagos tops the chart with 845,225 unclaimed PVCs. Nasarawa has 51,495, Niger 64,616, and Ogun 410,281. Ondo follows with 295,856, while Osun and Oyo report 360,794 and 515,254, respectively.
Plateau has 101,995 uncollected cards, Rivers 251,418, Sokoto 74,091, and Taraba 197,049. Yobe and Zamfara report 47,295 and 76,815, respectively. The Federal Capital Territory rounds off the figures with 93,868 uncollected PVCs.
The CVR exercise will allow eligible voters not only to register but also to pick up their uncollected PVCs from previous registration exercises.
Both new applicants and those who pre-registered online are expected to complete their registration in person at INEC centres, where their biometrics will be captured.
The commission also clarified that transfers of voter registration within or across states, as well as replacement of lost or damaged voter cards, are allowed under the ongoing CVR process.
INEC stated that the “CVR exercise will take place at 811 centres across the country, including all 774 Local Government Area offices and State offices.
“Registration will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. The process is open only to Nigerian citizens who are at least 18 years of age and have never registered before.”
To boost public participation, INEC launched a nationwide sensitisation campaign on Friday, encouraging Nigerians to register and stressing that voting begins with being on the register.
The commission has also made arrangements to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities and vulnerable groups.
INEC’s online portal — www.cvr.inecnigeria.org — offers services including pre-registration, PVC status checks, locating registration centres, transferring voter information, replacing lost or damaged cards, and updating personal details.
The Punch
