Lafia: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the registration of 106,074 new voters in Nasarawa State as part of the second phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. Muhammad Abubakar-Sadiq, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Nasarawa State, shared this information with newsmen in Lafia while discussing the commencement of the third phase of the CVR.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the REC explained that the ongoing third phase began on Monday, May 11, and is scheduled to conclude on July 10. The first phase of the exercise, which took place from August to December 2025, recorded 37,323 registrations. However, the number significantly increased during the second phase, from January to April 2025, reaching 106,074 registrations.
Abubakar-Sadiq attributed the increased turnout to heightened public awareness and the decentralisation of the registration centres. Previously, centres were located at the headquarters of 13 Local Government Areas and the state capital, Lafia, but they have now been expanded to 147 electoral wards.
The REC outlined that eligible participants for the CVR include Nigerians who have turned 18 since the last phase, new registrants, those transferring voter status, individuals replacing lost Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and those correcting personal data. Participation was notably high in Karu, Obi, Lafia, and Nasarawa LGAs, with Karu recording 16,492 registrations, followed by Obi with 14,030, Lafia with 13,354, and Nasarawa with 14,493.
Female registrations exceeded male registrations, with 59,538 females and 46,536 males registered. Abubakar-Sadiq praised the residents of Nasarawa for their strong participation and encouraged those yet to register to do so at their nearest registration areas.
The REC issued a warning against multiple registrations, stating that such entries would be removed during the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) process. He also mentioned that data from the previous phase would soon be displayed for public scrutiny, allowing for claims and objections before final publication.
Challenges faced during the previous exercise included network issues, last-minute surges, and geographical barriers. Measures have been taken to address these challenges, including the acquisition of routers for electoral officers to improve network connectivity.
Abubakar-Sadiq expressed gratitude to the media, traditional and religious leaders, and other stakeholders for their support, urging continued cooperation. He emphasised that the registration process is free and warned that no staff or agent is authorised to request payment for any part of the process.