Nigerians, don’t assume online pre-registration is the finish line—your Permanent Voter Card isn’t official until you complete the in-person verification.
By Dr. Nafisat Makinde
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reminded citizens that pre-registering online for PVCs is just the first step. Applicants must visit designated registration centres for fingerprint and facial capturing to finalize their registration.
In a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja, Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, revealed that 2,532,062 Nigerians had pre-registered online as of August 31, 2025. Of these, 63.29% are youths aged 18–34, while 25.57% are students, highlighting the enthusiastic participation of young Nigerians in shaping the country’s democracy.
“Online pre-registration offers convenience, but it is not the end of the process,” Olumekun stressed. “Applicants must physically visit one of our 811 State and Local Government offices nationwide to validate their registration.”
Since the in-person registration commenced on August 25, 2025, 72,274 citizens have completed their registration within five days, with young people leading the numbers.
INEC urged all eligible Nigerians to take advantage of the exercise, which runs weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and assured that detailed registration statistics are available on its official platforms. The Commission also commended civil society organizations mobilizing citizens for the process.
“Every eligible citizen has a role to play in strengthening the nation’s democracy,” Olumekun added. “Ensuring your voter registration is complete is the first step toward fulfilling that responsibility.”
