INEC records 106,074 new voter registrations in Nasarawa

Politics

LAFIA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it registered 106,074 new voters in Nasarawa State during the second phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Nasarawa State, Muhammad Abubakar-Sadiq, disclosed this on Monday in Lafia while briefing journalists on the commencement of the third phase of the CVR exercise.

According to him, the third phase of the registration exercise began on May 11 and is expected to end on July 10, 2026.

Abubakar-Sadiq explained that the commission recorded 37,323 new registrations during the first phase of the exercise conducted between August and December 2025.

He, however, said the figure rose significantly to 106,074 during the second phase conducted from January to April 2026.

The REC attributed the increase in voter turnout to heightened public awareness and the decentralisation of registration centres from the headquarters of the 13 local government areas and Lafia to the 147 electoral wards across the state.

He said eligible participants in the CVR exercise include Nigerians who recently attained the age of 18, new registrants, persons seeking transfer of voter registration, replacement of lost Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and correction of personal information.

According to him, participation was particularly high in Karu, Obi, Lafia and Nasarawa local government areas.

“Karu recorded 16,492, while Obi, Lafia and Nasarawa LGAs recorded 14,030, 13,354 and 14,493 respectively for new registration,” he said.

Abubakar-Sadiq added that female registrants outnumbered their male counterparts during the exercise.

“Female registration stood at 59,538, while male registration was 46,536,” he added.

The REC commended residents of the state for turning out in large numbers and encouraged those yet to register to visit the nearest registration centre.

He also warned against multiple registrations, stating that duplicate entries would be detected and removed through the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS).

Abubakar-Sadiq further disclosed that INEC would soon display data from the previous phase for public scrutiny, claims and objections before final publication.

He noted that the commission encountered challenges including poor network connectivity, last-minute rush by registrants and geographical barriers during the previous exercise.

According to him, INEC has taken steps to address the identified challenges, including the procurement of routers for electoral officers across the state to improve network connectivity and ensure smoother operations.

The REC appreciated the media, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders for their support during the exercise and called for sustained collaboration.

He also reminded the public that voter registration remains free of charge and warned that no INEC staff or agent is authorised to demand payment for any aspect of the process. (NAN).