The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed claims of irregularities in the ongoing voter pre-registration exercise, insisting that Osun State’s leading figures are consistent with historical trends.
“There is nothing extraordinary about the online pre-registration data released by the Commission. Nothing can be further from the truth,” said Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, in a statement on Friday.
Oyekanmi explained that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise began on August 18, 2025, with online pre-registration, followed by in-person registration on August 25. According to him, the first week of data showed 1,379,342 online pre-registrants nationwide, with Osun leading at 393,269, followed by Lagos with 222,205, and the Federal Capital Territory with 107,682.
He noted that Osun State has consistently topped registration figures in previous exercises. During the 2021–2022 CVR, Osun led with 154,893 pre-registrations by the second week, 365,412 by the eighth week, and concluded with 708,782 — the highest nationwide.
“The records are publicly available. If the party raising concerns had been proactive, they would have found these facts,” Oyekanmi added, stressing that INEC remains committed to transparency.
INEC further assured Nigerians that only eligible registrants, as defined by the Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022, will be included. “Our duty as a commission, which we take seriously, is to ensure that only real persons who meet the criteria are allowed to register,” Oyekanmi said.
The Commission also urged citizens to rely on verifiable data and pledged to continue providing timely updates on the ongoing CVR.
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