The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will begin on August 18, 2025, amid a surge in the number of associations seeking to register as political parties, now totaling 155.

This increase comes after eight new associations submitted their requests, aiming to join the existing 18 recognized political parties in Nigeria.

In a statement released on Thursday in Abuja, Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, said the CVR will begin with online pre-registration, followed by physical registration starting a week later, on August 25, 2025.

“Both online and in-person registration will run concurrently for one year, ending on August 30, 2026,” the commission said.

INEC also provided an update on the registration of new political associations, revealing that eight additional groups had submitted letters of intent, bringing the total number of applicants to 155. Information including their proposed names, acronyms, logos, office addresses, and interim leadership structures has been published on the INEC website and digital platforms for public awareness.

With the launch of its party registration portal, INEC has started screening the associations that meet the initial criteria to advance to the formal application phase. The full list of shortlisted groups will be released after the conclusion of 16 scheduled bye-elections in 12 states on Saturday, August 16, 2025.

The CVR exercise will take place in 811 designated centres, comprising INEC offices in all 774 local government areas, seven states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, excluding national public holidays.

To ensure a smooth registration experience, INEC will introduce a CVR Live Locator tool to help eligible voters find registration centres across the country. Dedicated phone lines will also be provided for further support.