The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has come out to say that it plans to resume nationwide Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) on April 28.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kwara, Malam Garba Attahiru-Madami recently revealed this to the press, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, this registration will allow eligible voters register ahead of 2023 poll, so it has to happen early enough.

He added that those eligible to register as voters are Nigerians who attained the age of 18 and have not been registered before.

His words, “The CVR will close at the end of third quarter of 2022.”

“Over the years, INEC has faced several challenges with regard to polling units as a result of population growth, expansion of towns and villages, demographic shift and growth of new settlements.”

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), set up in 1998, is the electoral body which oversees elections in Nigeria.

The Chairman of the first Nigerian Federal Electoral Commission was Chief Eyo Esua (1964–1966) in the First Republic. When General Olusegun Obasanjo prepared for a return to civilian power in the Second Republic, he established a new Federal Electoral Commission headed by Chief Michael Ani to supervise the 1979 elections.

Ani was succeeded by Justice Victor Ovie Whisky. During the Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha regimes, which attempted returns to democracy, the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria was headed by Professor Eme Awa (1987–1989), Professor Humphrey Nwosu (1989–1993), Professor Okon Uya and Chief Sumner Dagogo-Jack (1994–1998).

INEC was accused of widespread electoral irregularities in the 2019 presidential elections including cases of ballot paper unavailability, smart card readers malfunctioning and large cancellation of valid votes. The main opposition People’s Democratic Party and its presidential candidate challenged the results of the election in court.