From mercy Peter
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced decentralizing the Continuous Voter Registration process to all 62 electoral wards in the Federal Capital Territory.
This is as the Commission closed the online pre-registration process.
The decision was made public at a sensitization meeting with leaders of persons with disabilities (PWDs) on Monday at the Centenary Hall of Ibeto Hotel, Abuja.
According to the Commission, the online pre-registration portal for new voters will be suspended by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, September 15, 2025. Thereafter, registration will commence at the ward level on Monday, September 29, and run until Wednesday, October 8, 2025.
Speaking on behalf of the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Malam Aminu Idris, the Administrative Secretary, Mrs. Bimbo Oladunjoye, explained that the exercise would be conducted simultaneously at 69 designated centers. These include INEC offices in the six area councils and the state office in Area 10, Garki, operating daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., including weekends.
Mrs. Oladunjoye, delivering the REC’s address, stressed that the shift was aimed at deepening accessibility and inclusion.
“This initiative reflects the Commission’s unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable electoral playing field,” she said.
She also urged residents of the FCT who had pre-registered online but were yet to complete their biometric capture to take advantage of the new centers to finalize their registration. Failure to do so, she warned, would render their registration “incomplete and invalid.”
The meeting drew participation from disability rights advocates, including the Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), FCT Chapter, Mr. Joseph Kaura Wakili.
While commending INEC for decentralizing the registration exercise, Wakili appealed for additional measures to make the process more disability-friendly.
“We urge INEC to provide ramps, Braille materials, and sign language interpreters at ward-level centers to guarantee access for all persons with disabilities,” he said. “Without a voter card, we cannot vote. Without our votes, our issues may be ignored.”
The gathering concluded with a call for collective action, with stakeholders stressing that accessibility in the electoral process is not just about voting, but about ensuring that every citizen, regardless of physical ability, has a voice in shaping Nigeria’s democracy.
