Tag: Inec

•Borno displaces Osun
•6.2m Nigerians complete online pre-registration, says INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said 6,232,673 eligible Nigerians have completed the pre-registration process on its online registration portal at the end of the sixth week of the exercise.

The commission said 3,250,338, representing 52.15 per cent, are women, while 2,982,335, representing 47.85 per cent, are men, and 137,865 are persons living with disability.

INEC said 1,004,132 Nigerians have so far participated in the physical (in-person) registration. Of the figure, 555,077 registrants, representing 55.28 per cent, are women, while 449,055, representing 44.72 per cent, are men.

The figures are contained in the statistics on the registration, which INEC released yesterday in Abuja.

The statistics revealed that the Southwest and the Northwest have maintained the lead in the Online Continuous Voter Registration and the in-person registration.

It also showed that while Borno State took the lead in the online registration with about 682,805 eligible voters registering online at the end of Week Six, Osun State took the lead in the in-person registration at the end of Week Five (the online exercise began one week before the in-person exercise) with 107,012 voters completing their registration.

Read Also: Nigeria’s prosperity inseparable from future of northern Nigeria – Tinubu

According to the statistics, the Southwest has 1,924,072 eligible voters who registered online, followed by the Northwest with 1,728,144 eligible voters; the Northeast is third with 1,197,510 registrants; and the Northcentral is fourth with 967,518 eligible voters.

The Southsouth is fifth with 334,578 eligible voters, and the Southeast is sixth with 81,478 eligible voters.

The Northwest tops the list of the in-person registrants with 277,786 eligible voters completing the exercise, followed by the Southwest with 252,281; the Northcentral with 155,953; the Northeast with 144,437; the Southsouth with 105,108, and the Southeast with 67,745 eligible voters.

The state-by-state breakdown of the online registration revealed that Borno has registered 682,805, followed by Osun with 599,363 voters, Lagos with 555,442 voters, Kebbi with 472,662, while Ogun and Kaduna have registered 450,897 and 376,054 voters .

Osun State is first in the physical registration with 107,012 voters completing their registration, followed by Lagos with 58,460; Borno with 56,828; Kano with 54,145; Sokoto with 48,430; Imo with 47,083, and Kogi with 41,257 voters.

The statistics for Anambra State are not included in the two exercises since the state will be part of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) until after the November 8 governorship elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that the high level of participation by Nigerians, especially the youths, in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), shows that citizens still had confidence in the process.

Reacting to recent claims suggesting that Nigerians had lost confidence in the country’s electoral system, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the assertions were  baseless and unsupported by facts.

Oyekanmi said that the CVR, which began on Aug. 18 with online pre-registration, shows that citizens still had confidence in the process.

”The CVR portal went live at 8:30 am on Aug. 18 and by 3:30 pm, seven hours later the same day, 69,376 Nigerians had pre-registered, comprising 33,803 males (48.7 per cent) and 35,573 females (51.3 per cent).

“By Aug. 24, just a week later, a total of 1,379,342 had pre-registered online. If the Commission had allowed the CVR to be completed online, that figure would have subsisted.

“However, all those who pre-registered online must complete their registration by physically appearing at their preferred designated centre to have their biometrics and other details captured, in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, specifically Sections 9(7) and 10(2).

“By Sept. 1, two weeks after the online pre-registration began, 2,532,062 Nigerians had registered online,” he said.

Read Also: Ten years and Mahmood Yakubu’s legacy at INEC

Oyekanmi added that within one week of the in-person registration starting on Aug. 25, a total of 72,274 citizens had either completed their online pre-registration or registered in person.

He said that by week five, on Sept. 21, since the commencement of online pre-registration, a staggering 5,385,060 Nigerians had uploaded their details to the CVR portal.

”In the same manner, by week 4 on Sept. 19, since the in-person registration began, 399,162 pre-registrants had completed the process, while 365,533 Nigerians registered physically, totalling 764,695 Nigerians that had completed the registration process in just one month.

“There is no African country with these types of voter registration figures within one month,” he said.

Beyond the CVR figures, Oyekanmi said that the recent elections, particularly the 2023 general election, demonstrated significant improvements in the country’s electoral system.

He said that the election produced the most diverse National Assembly since the restoration of democracy in 1999, with multiple parties securing seats across various levels of government

“In the Senate, seven political parties won varying numbers of seats, comprising APC-59 seats, PDP-36, LP-8, NNPP-2, SDP-2, APGA and YPP -one each.

‘Similarly, eight political parties won seats in the House of Representatives. They include APC-177, PDP-117, LP-35, NNPP-19, APGA-five, ADC, SDP and YPP- two each

“For the Governorship elections, APC won 16 States, PDP-10, LP and NNPP- one each.

“In fact, nine political parties won seats in the State Assemblies. They include APC-533, PDP-355, LP-38, NNPP-29, APGA-20, YPP-8, SDP-7, Accord and ADC -one each,” he said.

Oyekanmi said that the recent bye-elections also show that Nigerians had kept faith with the electoral process.

“Ironically, some of the most ardent critics of INEC are also in the forefront of calling for electoral reform to transfer local government elections to the same commission.

“Surely, they cannot continue to walk on both sides of the road,” Oyekanmi said.

(NAN)

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the promotion of about 471 junior staff out of a total number of 515 staff recommended for promotion. 

National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun said in a statement that the next exercise will be the promotion of senior staff. 

The statement reads, “The Commission held its regular weekly meeting today, Thursday 25th September 2025. The meeting, chaired by Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, reviewed the preparations for the forthcoming Anambra State Governorship election, the Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the conduct of party primaries for the Ekiti and Osun State Governorship elections.

Read Also: INEC clears 65 candidates from 17 parties for 2026 FCT area council elections

“In addition, the meeting approved the 2025 promotion of 471 deserving junior staff (GL 03-06) of the Commission on the recommendation of the Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary Committee (APDC) in line with the Staff Conditions of Service.

“A total of 515 staff were shortlisted for the exercise, out of which 214 met the requirements for promotion to GL07, 134 to GL06, 106 to GL05 and 17 to GL04.

“The promotion of junior staff concludes the first phase of the exercise. Next is the promotion of senior staff, which has also commenced in earnest.

‘Staff promotion is a routine exercise. The Commission remains committed to regular merit-based promotion and the welfare of staff. We urge all staff to rededicate themselves to service, particularly with regard to elections and electoral activities”.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that 65 candidates from 17 political parties will contest the February 21, 2026, Area Council Elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Okumekun, INEC noted that the release of the final list of candidates officially concludes the nomination process across the six Area Councils.

The commission recalled that on August 18, 2025, it had published the personal particulars of candidates who emerged from party primaries ahead of the elections.

“A total of 17 Political Parties uploaded the particulars of their candidates (Form EC9) by the deadline of 6.00 pm on Monday, 11th August 2025, and at the end of the period for withdrawal and substitution of candidates.

“Consequently, the Commission hereby publishes the final list of candidates that will contest in the 2026 FCT Area Council Election. The full list of the candidates by party, age, gender, and academic qualifications has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information.

“With this publication, no further withdrawal or replacement of candidates will be allowed except in the event of the death of a candidate or running mate before Election Day, as provided by Section 34(1) of the Electoral Act. The FCT Area Council election will hold on Saturday, 21st February 2026.”

…says commission not recruiting staff

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Wednesday that only a review of the 1999 constitution and the Electoral Act can guarantee greater representation of women and other marginalised groups in elective offices in the country.

The commission also dismissed publications making the rounds in the country about its recruitment drive, describing it as fake, while asking Nigerians to disregard it

Speaking during an advocacy visit by Women’s Collectives Forum on Women’s participation in elective positions and party leadership, chairman of the commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, said affirmative action supported by a clear legal provision, as was the case in many jurisdictions, will aid more women’s participation in elective offices.

Yakubu said, “This calls for the amendment of sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2022.

“Accordingly, the ongoing review of the Constitution and the Electoral Act offers an opportunity to engage with our lawmakers for appropriate legislative action. Happily, the matter is back on the legislative agenda.

“At our retreat early this year with members of the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Electoral Matters, we supported the amendment that will ensure greater representation of women in elective positions.

“The Commission believes that the most effective way of ensuring greater representation for women and other marginalised groups in the legislative assemblies is affirmative action supported by clear legal provision, as was the case in many jurisdictions.

“We welcome your consistent advocacy for women’s participation and representation in political party leadership and elective representation in Nigeria. You should continue to count on the Commission’s support at all times”.

He said further that “INEC is an equal opportunities organisation. We believe in inclusivity both in the workplace and in the discharge of our extensive responsibilities as an Election Management Body. Today, 12 out of 22 Departments and Directorates of the Commission are headed by women.

“This means that 55% of the Directors at the Headquarters here in Abuja are women. Across the States of the Federation, many of our substantive Administrative Secretaries, who are also Directors, are women.

“With regard to the electoral process, we have a gender policy which is periodically revised and updated. We have also established a Department of Gender and Inclusivity for the promotion of greater access for marginalised and underrepresented groups in the electoral process.

“Similarly, in our consultative meetings with political parties, we have consistently urged them to ensure greater representation for underrepresented groups in party leadership. Many of them have responded positively, although much work needs to be done.

Read Also: CVR: INEC pre-registered 4.445m in four weeks

Meanwhile, the Commission (INEC) warned Nigerians to beware of a fake advertorial currently circulating on social media, claiming that the Commission is recruiting for various positions and directing applicants to a fraudulent portal, www.inecrecruitment.com, saying it does not have such a website and is not conducting any general recruitment exercise.

 “INEC is not recruiting. Do not fall victim to the antics of criminal elements,” the Commission said.

It, however, said that in preparation for the upcoming Anambra State Governorship Election, INEC has officially launched its dedicated online portal for the recruitment of ad-hoc staff.

It explained that the initiative demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible elections and encourages eligible Nigerians to apply for temporary roles essential to ensuring a smooth electoral process.

It said, “Vacancies are available for Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs), Presiding Officers (POs), and Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs I, II, III), as well as Registration Area Technical Support (RATECHs) and Registration Area Centre (RAC) Managers, with each position having specific eligibility criteria, including public servants, corps members, ICT professionals, and staff of host schools.”

It emphasised that all applications must be submitted exclusively through its official recruitment portal, www.pres.inecnigeria.org, and that only entries received through this channel will be considered.

The Commission reiterated its commitment to transparency and inclusivity and urged qualified Nigerians to seize this opportunity while cautioning the public to ignore fraudulent messages that could mislead unsuspecting applicants.

 It restated that participation in the official recruitment exercise is strictly for the ad-hoc positions needed for the Anambra Governorship Election, and nothing more.