Abuja, Nigeria – September 15, 2025 — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a major shift in its ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), bringing the process closer to the people by decentralizing it to all 62 electoral wards.
The announcement came during a sensitization meeting with leaders of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) on Monday at the Centenary Hall of Ibeto Hotel, Abuja. The new arrangement marks a significant departure from the commission’s previous approach, which had relied heavily on centralized registration points and online pre-registration.
In a bold move, INEC declared that the online pre-registration portal for new voters would be suspended as of 11:59 p.m. on Monday, September 15, 2025. According to the commission, the decision was necessary to ensure that attention is focused on the physical registration exercise at ward level — a measure aimed at strengthening accessibility and inclusivity.
Ward-Level Registration Begins September 29
Mrs. Bimbo Oladunjoye, Administrative Secretary of INEC FCT, represented the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Malam Aminu Idris, at the event. She announced that ward-level registration would kick off on Monday, September 29, 2025, and run until Wednesday, October 8, 2025, across 69 designated centers. These centers include INEC offices in the six area councils, as well as the state office in Area 10, Garki.
The registration exercise will hold daily — including weekends — from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Mrs. Oladunjoye, reading the REC’s speech, emphasized that the move reflects INEC’s “unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable electoral playing field.” She urged all FCT residents who had begun the registration process online but were yet to complete biometric capture to visit any of the designated centers before the deadline, warning that without biometric data, their registration would remain “incomplete and invalid.”
PWD Leaders Call for Accessible Registration Points
The sensitization meeting was enriched with goodwill messages from leaders of the disability community, who hailed the development as a step in the right direction but pressed for further improvements.
Mr. Joseph Kaura Wakili, Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), FCT Chapter, commended INEC for the initiative but stressed the importance of making voter registration truly accessible.
“Without a voter card, we cannot vote. Without our votes, our issues may be ignored,” Wakili declared. He called for ward-level registration centers to be equipped with ramps, Braille materials, and sign language interpreters to ensure that no person with a disability is left behind.
Stakeholders Urge Inclusive Participation
The event also featured technical presentations from INEC officials and disability advocates.
- Habiba Jatto, Deputy Director at INEC, highlighted the objectives of the engagement, reiterating the commission’s dedication to inclusive electoral participation.
- Grace Jerry of the Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) urged the disability community to take full advantage of the ward-level CVR process, describing it as a chance to break barriers to political participation.
- Samuel J. Bassey, Head of Voter Education and Publicity at INEC FCT, provided practical guidelines for registration, with special emphasis on first-time voters.
- Festus Aisien, Head of ICT in INEC FCT, addressed the role of digital integration, explaining how PWDs could be supported to navigate the registration process despite the suspension of online pre-registration.
A Collective Push Towards 2026 Elections
As the meeting drew to a close, stakeholders agreed that the decentralization of voter registration was a milestone in Nigeria’s democratic journey. By bringing registration closer to citizens, especially marginalized groups such as PWDs, INEC is signaling its determination to uphold inclusivity ahead of the February 2026 Area Council elections in the FCT.
Participants left the sensitization meeting with a renewed sense of commitment to mobilize eligible citizens — particularly those living with disabilities — to register and participate in the electoral process.
The consensus was clear: ensuring accessibility is not just about voting rights; it is about affirming the dignity, equality, and voice of every Nigerian.
✨ With this initiative, INEC has not only moved voter registration to the grassroots — it has also moved Nigeria one step closer to a more inclusive democracy.
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