The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kwara State says it has received 180,638 applications in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which began in August.
The figure, which covers new registrations, transfers, and voter data updates, was disclosed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hale Gabriel Longpet, during an exclusive interview with verified source in Ilorin on Wednesday.
Breaking down the statistics, Longpet said 136,628 applicants pre-registered online before completing their biometric capture, 11,756 applied to transfer their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), while 4,867 were new registrants.
“Personally, I think that is very low,” the REC said. “From 2022 till date, hundreds of thousands have turned 18 and should have registered, but the majority of applications are transfers rather than new registrations.”
Longpet identified insecurity in parts of Ifelodun, Edu, and Patigi Local Government Areas as a major challenge that initially hindered registration in those communities.
“When we started, there was no registration in those LGAs due to insecurity. However, with the military’s assistance, progress has been made,” he noted.
As of October 14, 2025, Patigi had 1,871 applications with 193 completed, Edu recorded 5,683 applications with 267 completed, while Ifelodun received 6,126 applications but completed only 52 due to ongoing security concerns.
“In Ifelodun, residents prefer paying to transport people to Ilorin for registration rather than staying in their communities where there’s fear of kidnapping,” Longpet explained.
He also highlighted congestion in Ilorin West and Ilorin East, which together account for over 72,000 applications, mostly from people relocating from insecure areas.
“We’re seeing a heavy influx of people moving from insecurity-prone LGAs to metropolitan areas like Ilorin,” the REC added.
Longpet assured that despite security and logistical challenges, the CVR process remains transparent and inclusive, adding that INEC is committed to ensuring no eligible voter is disenfranchised as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The PunchNews
