The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a major shift in its ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the Federal Capital Territory, moving the process closer to the people by decentralizing it to all 62 electoral wards. The announcement was made at a sensitization meeting with leaders of persons with disabilities (PWDs) held on Monday at the Centenary Hall of Ibeto Hotel, Abuja.
The commission also declared that the online pre-registration portal for new voters would be suspended effective 11:59pm. on Monday, September 15, 2025.
Mrs. Bimbo Oladunjoye, the Administrative Secretary of INEC FCT, who represented the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Malam Aminu Idris, stated that the ward level registration would commence on Monday, September 29, and run until Wednesday, October 8, 2025.
The registration will take place simultaneously at 69 designated centers, including the INEC offices in the six area councils and the state office in Area 10, Garki, from 9:00am to 3:00pm daily, including weekends.
Mrs. Oladunjoye, reading the REC's address, emphasized that the move was part of the commission's "unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive equitable electoral playing field." She urged all FCT residents who had pre-registered online but were yet to complete the biometric capture to visit any of the centers to validate their registration, noting that without this step, their registration remains "incomplete and invalid."
The meeting featured goodwill messages from leaders of the disability community, including the Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) FCT Chapter, Mr. Joseph Kaura Wakili.
In his address, Wakili commended INEC for the initiative but called for more accessible registration centers, equipped with ramps, Braille materials, and sign language interpreters, to be situated at the ward levels for easier access by PWDs.
"Without a voter card, we cannot vote. Without our votes, our issues may be ignored," Wakili stated, urging all persons with disabilities to seize the opportunity to register.
The meeting featured several technical presentations from INEC officials. Habiba Jatto, Deputy Director of INEC, outlined the objectives of the engagement, emphasizing the commission's commitment to inclusive participation.
Grace Jerry of Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) spoke on optimizing the ward-level CVR opportunities to enhance the full participation of persons with disabilities in the FCT.
Samuel J. Bassey, Head of Department for Voter Education and Publicity in the FCT, provided detailed registration guidelines and information about the CVR process, with special attention to first-time voters.
Festus Aisien, Head of Department for ICT in the FCT, addressed digital integration in voter registration, focusing on access, guidance, and participation in the continuous voter registration process.
The sensitization meeting concluded with a collective commitment to ensure no eligible citizen is left behind in the electoral process ahead of the February 2026 Area Council elections.
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