The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State has announced the commencement of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

According to the commission, the online registration process will begin on August 18, 2025, while the physical biometric capturing will start on August 25, 2025, and will run until August 30, 2026.

Speaking on Tuesday in Lagos, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC), Prof. Ayobami Salami, warned that underage registration and multiple registrations will attract penalties, and offenders will be handed over to law enforcement agencies.

According to him, the registrants are expected to bring their National Identification Numbers (NIN) or any other national means of identification to ensure the true identities of the registrants, adding that the commission is committed to ensuring the integrity of the process.

He noted that the exercise would ensure eligible citizens are registered to vote, adding that these include those who have attained 18 years of age, those willing to replace damaged or lost Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), and those seeking to transfer their voting rights to other polling units or states.

According to him, the registration centres are located at the INEC state secretariat in Yaba and all 20 Local Government Area offices in Lagos State.

The commission urged eligible citizens to take advantage of this opportunity to register and exercise their right to vote.

Prof. Salami also emphasised the importance of the media in promoting the exercise and ensuring its success, while calling on them to help disseminate information about the CVR exercise, its benefits, and the registration process to the public.

He said: “The CVR exercise is a crucial component of our electoral process, aimed at ensuring that all eligible citizens are registered to vote. The exercise commences by 9:00 am and ends by 3:00 pm from Monday to Friday. However, any person in the queue as of 3:00 pm during this period shall be allowed to register.

“We need the media to disseminate information about the CVR exercise, its benefits and the registration process to the public and also to assist in providing educational content on the importance of voter registration, the eligibility criteria and the required documents.

“There is also a need to sensitise the public on the need to participate in the democratic process and the impact of voter registration on the future of our country. We urge the media to also monitor the registration process and report all issues or challenges that may arise, as well as support us in addressing them promptly.

“We need them to join us in promoting transparency and credibility of the registration process, to reassure the public of the integrity of the exercise.” (The Guardian)