The Young Progressive Party (YPP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, over fears that eligible Nigerians who are yet to register, could be excluded from participating in the 2027 general elections.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chairman of the YPP, Hon. Abraham Simon Adedotun, and the party’s FCT senatorial candidate, Blessing Ufedojo Benyeogor, who made the call over the weekend, appealed to the electoral umpire to reconsider the closure of the registration exercise and provide another opportunity for eligible citizens to register.

In a joint statement issued to journalists in Abuja, Adedotun and Benyeogor claimed that the closure of the CVR could disenfranchise many Nigerians, particularly young people who had not yet completed the registration process.

Meanwhile, they charged INEC to remain an impartial umpire and take steps that would strengthen public confidence in the electoral process and Nigeria’s democracy.

Recall that the Commission had initially scheduled the 2025–2026 CVR exercise to run until August 30, 2026. The Commission subsequently revised the timetable, setting an earlier operational deadline and later extending the final phase to July 26, 2026.

On July 26, INEC said the registration exercise would close that day, urging eligible Nigerians who had not registered to take advantage of the remaining time. The Commission later ruled out another extension, saying further delays could affect its preparations for the 2027 elections.

Meanwhile, INEC had also introduced a self-service online registration option during the final phase, allowing eligible first-time voters to complete the registration process electronically.

It should be noted that besides YPP, other political actors and civil society groups have expressed concern about access to voter registration and the need to ensure that eligible citizens are not left out of the electoral process.

They urged that the electoral umpire considers the appeals of Nigerians who were unable to register and to explore measures that would give eligible citizens another opportunity to be captured on the voters’ register.

As preparations for the 2027 elections continue, the debate over voter registration is likely to remain a significant issue, particularly given the importance of ensuring broad participation and public confidence in the electoral process. (THISDAY)

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