INEC Extends Voter Registration In Anambra, 96,085 Persons Enrol in 9 Days

• Five More Associations Seek Registration As Political Parties

By Nathaniel Gana

Thursday 17th July 2025

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Anambra State by three additional days. Originally scheduled to end today, Thursday, July 17, 2025, the exercise will now continue until Sunday, July 20, 2025.

This decision was made during the Commission’s weekly meeting held earlier today at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja. According to a statement signed by National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Sam Olumekun, mni, the extension was granted in response to appeals from citizens and stakeholders who requested more time to complete their registration.

“The Commission is pleased with the turnout of registrants in Anambra State and the peaceful conduct of the CVR in all the 326 registration centres in the State,” Olumekun stated. “As of Wednesday, 16th July 2025, a total of 96,085 new voters had successfully registered within just nine days, averaging over 10,600 registrations per day.”

In addition, the Commission recorded 12,595 requests for transfers of voter registration, both within and outside the state, and another 7,061 applications for updates or replacements of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) due to damage or loss.

Preliminary data shows that women and youth are leading in the exercise. Of the 96,085 new registrants, 56,017—representing 58%—are female, while 50,429 (52.48%) are young people between the ages of 18 and 34.

The statement added that following the close of registration on Sunday, the Commission will display the preliminary register for claims and objections, as stipulated in the Electoral Act 2022. This will be followed by a comprehensive data clean-up using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS). A final breakdown of registrants by age, gender, occupation, and disability will be published thereafter.

On another front, INEC also provided an update on the ongoing process of political party registration. The Commission confirmed that it has received five new letters of intent from associations seeking registration as political parties, bringing the total number of applications so far to 134.

Details of these applications, including proposed names, acronyms, logos, addresses, and interim leadership, have been uploaded the Commission’s website and social media platforms for public scrutiny.

“The Commission remains committed to transparency, inclusivity, and timely dissemination of information. Citizens will continue to be updated on all ongoing activities as we move closer to the Anambra Governorship Election,” the statement concluded.