Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is set to pioneer a statewide strategy of rotational movement of its Voter Enrollment Device (IVED) machine across the 351 registration areas of Oyo State.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Oyo State, Professor Adeniran Tella, said the measure is to address the challenge of accessibility which was encountered in the first phase of the Continous Voter Registration (CVR).
While addressing journalists at the INEC Collation Centre, Professor Tella said the commission has designed a 50-day rotational schedule to ensure that the enrollment services reach every corner of the state.
Method to be Adopted
Speaking on the method to be adopted for the second phase of the exercise which began on Monday, January 5th, 2026, the Oyo REC said at least 551 persons have registered so far within the first three days of the commencement of the exercise.
Prof. Tella stated: “Having reviewed the challenges and feedback from the initial phase, one message was clear: accessibility remains a key hurdle. To bridge the gap however, the Commission is implementing a pioneering statewide strategy, which is the rotational movement of INEC Voter Enrollment Device (IVED) machine across 351 registration areas.
“The machines will be moved systematically starting from Monday, February 9th, 2026 from 9AM to 3PM daily excluding weekends and public holidays, across all the 351 Registration Areas (RAs) in the state.
“Please note that, registration of eligible voters will still continue at both the state office and all the 33 local government areas, during the movement of the IVED machines on rotational basis at the 351 RAs in the state.”
Stakeholders Meeting
He explained that in addition to the rotational movement of the IVED machines, stakeholders meeting comprising political parties and security personnel, NGOs/CSOs, traditional leaders, religious leaders, market women/men, youths, People Living with Disabilities (PLWDs) and other relevant stakeholders, would also be organised at both the state and respective LGA offices across the state.
The Oyo REC noted that the effort would enhance effective dissemination of information, deployment of security men and materials at the agreed venues and dates for each RA, asserting that the schedule for the movement will be uploaded on the INEC website for easy accessibility by the prospective registrants.
He reiterated that the objective of the rotational movement is to bring Voter registration closer to citizens’ doorsteps, particularly for eligible registrants in remote, rural and underserved communities that are yet to register or just turned 18 years of age.
“It is also meant for those that have lost their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) or have their PVCs defaced or damaged. Or for those that will like to change their polling units from one Ward or State to another,” the Oyo REC disclosed.
Professor Tella said the CVR exercise is also meant for those that have not yet collected their unclaimed PVCs, to do so at their respective LGAs where they registered before, as the Commission still has quite a number of uncollected PVCs in all the 33 LGA offices across the state.