Online voter pre-registrations hit 3.5m in three weeks

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says a total of 3,544,850 Nigerians have now pre-registered online in its ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) within three weeks.

Sam Olumekun, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, disclosed this in an update issued on the exercise in Abuja on Monday.

He also disclosed that 288,614 registrants have now completed their physical registration within two weeks.

“As at Sunday Sept, 7, a total of 3,544,850 Nigerians have now pre-registered online in three weeks since the commencement of the exercise on Aug. 18.

“The figure at the end of Week Three shows that 1,709,933 (48.24 per cent) are male and 1,834,917 (51.76 per cent) are female.

“In terms of age and occupation, the majority 2,291,809 (64.65 per cent) are between the ages of 18 and 34 while 882,441 (24.89 per cent) are students,” he said.

Olumekun added that as of Sept. 4, the cumulative figure for the physical (in-person) registration which commenced since Aug. 25 was 288,614.

He stated that 132,634 (45.96 per cent) of the figure were male and 155,980 (54.04 per cent) were female.

“In terms of age and occupation, 215,414 (74.64 per cent) are between the ages of 18 and 34 while 114,150 (39.55 per cent) are students,” he said.

Olumekun stated further that the distribution of both online and completed registrations by State, gender, age, occupation and disability had been uploaded to INEC website and other official platforms for public information.

He appreciated the positive response of citizens and organisations that had mobilised civic participation for the exercise.

“However, we wish to reiterate that voter registration is only open to citizens who are 18 years or older at the time of registration.

“It is illegal for anyone to encourage underage registration or those below 18 years of age to register in anticipation that they will attain the legal age of voting by the time the general election holds in 2027,” he said.

(NAN)