There was mixed reaction among the eligible youth over the online voter registration which began on August 18, as the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise begins today across the country. In Kano State some eligible individuals claimed they encountered network problem on the INEC server when they tried to access its portal for registration. This was just as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state said more than 360,000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) remain uncollected in the state.

A student of Bayero University Kano, who preferred anonymity, claimed that he tried more than three times to register but always encountered network problems. Another individual, Mallam Yunusa Gwarzo, said: “I have also made an attempt to register online, but the INEC server did not open.”

However, another respondent, Abubakar Ibrahim, said he successfully registered online at the INEC portal, just as Mr. Emmanuel Jacob confirmed that he registered when he made the attempt two days ago. An INEC member of staff, who pleaded anonymity, said the issue of network should not discourage people from going out to register.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Ambassador Abdu Zango, who disclosed the number of uncollected PVCs while receiving a high-powered committee set up by the state government to drive public awareness on the ongoing voter registration exercise, urged the committee to intensify sensitization campaigns to encourage citizens to collect their PVCs.

Meanwhile, INEC in Kano has also organized a two-day training for Registration Area Officers (RAOs) from the 44 local government areas of the state.

In Kwara, some residents of the state who have just attained voting age and those who misplaced their voters’ cards, said they participated in the online pre-registration exercise component of the CVR. Two residents in Ilorin, the state capital, Lekan Moses and Abdusamad Alaya, from Sabo Oke in the Ilorin East local government area of the state, said that they have registered in the CVR, adding that the process was smooth. Also speaking, the Public Relations Officer of INEC in the state, Halilu Ibrahim, said that eligible individuals have been involving themselves in the exercise, adding that the commission had carried out publicity.

INEC’s online voter registration kicks off in Ondo with mixed reactions

Some residents of the Ondo State capital, Akure, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune on the online registration of voters (CVR), said that the system was a welcome development. A student of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Toluwanimi, said: “I registered from my phone without stress. It only took me about 10 minutes. I will visit the center this week for proper biometric registration.”

But in rural areas, poor internet connectivity has been a major setback. A rice farmer, Sunday Ogungbola, from Ogbese, lamented: “I tried it on my phone in Ogbese but the network kept failing. I have to travel to Akure to get it done.”

The Deputy Director, HOD VEP INEC, in the state, Mr. Yinka Ogunseye, said the exercise has recorded “encouraging turnout” since it began, stressing that the online option was successful. According to him: “The online platform is meant to reduce congestion at registration centres. Many young people are embracing it, but those unable to complete the process online can still walk into any of our offices to register.”

He said: “No fewer than 69,376 Nigerians completed online pre-registration within the first seven hours of the commencement of the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.” According to the commission, the online portal went live at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, August 18, 2025, and by 3:30 p.m. the same day, thousands of eligible citizens had already taken advantage of the platform to begin their registration process.

INEC’s data revealed a near-even gender distribution, with 33,803 males (48.7%) and 35,573 females (51.3%) pre-registering. The figures also highlighted the dominance of young people in the exercise, with 48,033 registrants (69.2%) aged between 18 and 34 years.

The CVR exercise is expected to run until August 2026, with online pre-registration to be followed by in-person biometric capture at designated centres nationwide.

In Ekiti State, many eligible voters have taken advantage of the online registration in the CVR exercise for them to take part during the June 20, 2026 governorship election in the state. Even though the physical process of the registration is expected to commence today, Nigerian Tribune gathered that many computer centres were crowded with people ready to start the process in the portal provided by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, the REC in Ekiti, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, said the commission has prepared to receive eligible voters at its offices across the 16 local government areas of the state. He explained that the commencement of the exercise would be seamless with all necessary arrangements put in place by the INEC staff.

“Our people should be peaceful and cooperate with our officials in the centres. We are willing to register them for them to be able to vote in next year’s poll and future elections.”

In Kogi, the REC in the state, Oliver Agungu, encouraged Nigerians not to lose confidence in INEC as the commission remains committed to delivering credible elections and strengthening Nigeria’s democracy. He said that consolidating the country’s electoral system requires the cooperation of all stakeholders.

In Akwa Ibom State, eligible Nigerians have begun turning out in impressive numbers to participate in the process. The exercise, which kicked off with online pre-registration on August 18 and moved to physical capture at local government offices on August 25, has attracted residents eager to secure their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

From Uyo to Itu, Ikot Ekpene and several rural communities, registrants described the exercise as timely and commendable. Young people who recently attained voting age expressed excitement at the chance to be part of the electoral process for the first time. Others, who had relocated from different states, praised the opportunity to transfer their voting credentials without much difficulty. “I completed the online phase in minutes and only had to show up at the INEC office for biometrics,” said a University of Uyo student.

Not all residents, however, have found the process smooth. At some registration centres, long queues and slow service have left prospective voters frustrated. A trader in Ikot Ekpene narrated how she spent nearly five hours before being attended to. Others in rural local government areas complained of unstable internet connectivity, which slowed down registration. There were also reports of equipment breakdowns, forcing applicants to make repeated visits.

INEC officials in the state acknowledged the challenges but assured that efforts were underway to improve the situation. According to them, additional registration kits have been deployed to high-volume centres to ease congestion, while technical teams are on standby to address machine failures. Officials also reminded registrants that multiple registrations would result in disqualification, urging citizens to avoid falling into the trap.

When contacted, the INEC Public Relations Officer in Akwa Ibom, Mr. Etim Bassey, said official figures were not yet available in the state, as the exercise was still ongoing. He, however, noted that public response so far had been quite encouraging. “The turnout is impressive, and we are optimistic it will increase as more people become aware of the process,” he stated. (Nigerian Tribune)