By Ayo Ayodele
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the decentralisation of its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Lagos State, moving registration from local government headquarters to registration areas (electoral wards) to make the process more accessible to residents.
The Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Ayobami Salami, disclosed this on Tuesday at a media briefing on the second phase of the CVR exercise held at INEC’s state office in Yaba.
Salami said the rotation of INEC Voter Enrolment Devices (IVEDs) across the registration areas will commence on February 2 and run for 50 days, ending on April 10. He added that the final week of the exercise, from April 11 to April 17, will take place at the local government offices across the state.
According to the REC, the decentralisation is aimed at bringing voter registration closer to communities, reducing congestion at centres and ensuring that no eligible voter is excluded from the electoral process.
He explained that designated INEC offices and approved locations have been established within the registration areas, noting that details of venues, dates and operational hours would be communicated through the commission’s official channels.
Salami reiterated that the registration exercise is free of charge and open to Nigerians aged 18 and above.
He said the second phase of the CVR, running from January 5 to April 17, builds on the gains of the first phase, during which 139,251 registrations were recorded in Lagos State, including 126,668 new voters and 12,283 transfers.
According to him, women accounted for 54 per cent of new registrants, while men made up 46 per cent, with youths aged 18 to 39 constituting 65 per cent of those registered.
Salami called on political parties, civil society organisations, community and religious leaders, as well as the media, to support INEC by mobilising eligible citizens, especially youths, women and persons with disabilities.
At a stakeholders’ meeting held after the briefing, participants called for the deployment of more IVEDs, extended registration periods and improved access for persons living with disabilities.
Responding, the INEC ICT Head in Lagos, Muyiwa Yusuf, said additional IVEDs had been provided in each local government and would be rotated across registration areas. He added that a QR code had been introduced to enable residents view the machine rotation schedule.
INEC assured stakeholders of its readiness to address concerns and ensure a smooth, inclusive and credible voter registration exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections.