By Samson Obande, Lafia.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has launched a Self-Service Online Registration Platform for eligible first-time voters as part of efforts to boost participation in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, CVR.

The platform will go live on Wednesday, 8th July 2026, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of Nasarawa State, Mal. Muhammed Abubakar Sadiq, disclosed during a press conference at his office in Lafia on Tuesday.

The briefing followed INEC’s approval of a two-week extension for the CVR exercise.

Addressing journalists, Sadiq said the online platform was designed to fast-track the registration process and ensure more eligible citizens are captured ahead of future elections.

He, however, noted that the self-service phase is only the first stage of the process.

“Those who register online are required to appear in person for physical verification, including facial capture and thumb printing, to guarantee the issuance of their Permanent Voter Cards,” he said.

“This service becomes available from Wednesday, 8th July 2026, through the Commission’s dedicated Continuous Voter Registration portal at http://cvr.inecnigeria.org, where detailed step-by-step registration guidelines are provided,”_ he added.

According to the REC, the first and second phases of the CVR recorded significant turnout across Nasarawa State. He said feedback from key stakeholders prompted the Commission to extend the exercise by an additional two weeks, from 10th to 26th July 2026, with registration centres open on Saturdays and Sundays.

Sadiq urged all eligible citizens in Nasarawa State who are yet to register to take advantage of the extended window and the newly introduced technology-driven platform.

In a related development, the REC hosted a delegation from the Nasarawa State Disabilities Rights Commission led by its Executive Chairman, Saleh Barde Keana, on a courtesy visit.

Discussions focused on ensuring priority and accessibility for Persons with Disabilities, PWDs, in the ongoing CVR exercise to enable them to exercise their franchise in the 2027 general elections.