By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recorded 573,395 new voters under Phase II, Week Four of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise nationwide.
The commission disclosed in a post on its official X handle, @inecnigeria, that the figures reflect registrations completed as at Friday,30 January 2026, combining online pre-registration and physical capture at CVR centres across the country.
It added that the data remains preliminary, pending the statutory claims-and-objections window and subsequent cleansing using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS).
According to INEC, 281,502 applicants completed registration through online pre-registration, while 291,893 finalised the process physically.
Women accounted for the majority, with 325,654 registrants (57 per cent), compared to 247,741 men (43 per cent). The commission also confirmed that 10,618 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) were registered during the period.
Meanwhile, youth participation dominated the exercise. INEC said 407,963 registrants (71.15 per cent) were aged 18–34, followed by 113,659 (19.82 per cent)within the 35–49 bracket. Those aged 50–69 stood at 47,026 (8.20 per cent), while 4,747 applicants (0.83 per cent)were 70 years and above.
On occupational spread, students formed the largest group with 152,728 registrants (26.64 per cent). They were followed by housewives with 129,463 (22.58 per cent)and those in business with 109,986 (19.18 per cent).
Others included farming and fishing (80,410; 14.02 per cent), artisans (27,017; 4.71 per cent), traders (24,526; 4.28 per cent), civil servants (20,858; 1.89 per cent), public servants (4,719; 0.82 per cent), and others (33,688; 5.88 per cent).
Further analysis showed that among PWDs, those classified under “others” numbered 5,817 (54.78 per cent), followed by physical impediments (1,226; 11.55 per cent) and albinism (1,077; 10.14 per cent).
Other categories included cognitive learning disabilities (691), deafness (672), blindness (612), autism (202), Down syndrome(158), little stature (126) and spinal cord injury (37).
State-by-state figures revealed sharp contrasts, with Jigawa (66,133), Sokoto (47,061), Lagos (42,516), Kano (39,895) and Katsina (34,421) recording some of the highest numbers.
However, INEC noted that registration in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) remains suspended.
The commission explained that CVR activities in the FCT were halted in compliance with Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022, pending the Area Council elections scheduled for 21 February 2026.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive participation and urged eligible Nigerians to continue engaging with the CVR process, describing it as central to strengthening democratic representation.
