INEC headquarters in Abuja
By EZEKIEL OBI, Abuja –
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a three-day extension for the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Anambra, shifting the deadline from July 17 to July 20.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Awka, Mr. Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, shared the update following the commission’s weekly meeting at its Abuja headquarters.
“The extension responds to requests from citizens and stakeholders for additional time to register,” Olumekun said.
“We are encouraged by the strong turnout and orderly conduct of the CVR across all 326 registration centers in Anambra.”
As of Wednesday, INEC recorded 96,085 new voter registrations over nine days, averaging more than 10,600 daily.
Additionally, 12,595 individuals applied for voter registration transfers within or outside Anambra, while 7,061 sought updates or replacements for damaged or lost Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
Olumekun highlighted that women and youth dominate the registration figures, with 56,017 females (58%) and 50,429 young people aged 18–34 (52.48%) among the new registrants.
After the registration closes on Sunday, INEC will display the preliminary voter register for claims and objections, as required by the Electoral Act. This will be followed by a thorough data cleanup using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), with a detailed breakdown of registrants by age, gender, occupation, and disability to be published later.
Olumekun also disclosed that INEC received five new applications from associations seeking to register as political parties, increasing the total to 134. Information about these applications, including proposed names, acronyms, logos, addresses, and interim leadership, is now available on INEC’s website and social media for public review.
“The commission is dedicated to transparency, inclusivity, and keeping the public informed,” Olumekun said, promising regular updates as preparations for Anambra’s governorship election continue.
