Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says it has registered more than 4,400 new voters in Anambra State within four weeks of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
The Commission urged eligible citizens, especially first-time voters, to participate early ahead of the 2027 general election.
INEC disclosed that a total of 4,423 voters have been registered since the resumption of the CVR on January 5, 2026.
The State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Queen Elizabeth Agwu, made the announcement during an interactive sessions with journalists in Awka, noting that the exercise is taking place across all 21 local government areas and will end on April 17, 2026.
According to Agwu, registration figures improved steadily after a slow start.
While no registrants were recorded in the first week, 936 people registered in the second week, followed by 1,832 and 1,455 in the third and fourth weeks respectively.
“There is no registration apathy in Anambra. Considering that voter registration was conducted as recently as last July, the turnout so far is encouraging. However, we want to avoid a last-minute rush or calls for an extension after the deadline,” she said.
The REC urged eligible residents, particularly those who have recently turned 18, to take advantage of the exercise, while warning against double registration, which she described as illegal and counterproductive.
“No matter how it is done, the system will detect and remove duplicate registrations during data cleansing,” Agwu said, explaining that this often accounts for cases where applicants are unable to locate their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for collection.
She clarified that the CVR also covers replacements for lost, defaced or damaged PVCs, as well as transfers resulting from changes in residence or polling units.
INEC, she stated, operates two registration points in each local government area, one permanent centre and one mobile unit that rotates among communities to improve access.
Emphasising the importance of voter registration, Agwu described it as both a civic duty and a key means of personal identification, noting that the PVC serves purposes beyond voting.
She commended the Anambra State Government, political parties, the media and other stakeholders for their support in voter education, while calling for intensified collaboration to mobilise more eligible citizens.
Agwu also noted that Anambra is among a few Nigerian states permitted to conduct voter registration twice yearly due to its “stand-alone” electoral status, urging residents to make full use of the opportunity.
She further assured voters that INEC is working to address the technical challenges experienced during the 2023 general election ahead of the 2027 polls.
“With collective support, Anambra is expected to emerge among the states with a higher voter population at the end of this nationwide exercise,” she added.