The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will be unable to conduct the 2025/2026 Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in four local government areas of Borno State due to persistent security challenges.
The affected LGAs are Abadam, Guzamala, Kala-Balge, and Marte, according to the Borno State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Abubakar Ahmed Ma’aji, who disclosed the information during a press briefing held Friday in Maiduguri.
Ma’aji explained that while the CVR exercise is scheduled to commence on Monday, August 18, the prevailing security conditions make it impossible to operate registration centers in the headquarters of the four LGAs. Instead, alternative registration centres have been designated within Maiduguri for residents of the affected areas.
- Abadam residents are to register at Yerwa Peace, Baga Road
- Guzamala residents at the Fire Service Department, 1,000 Housing Estate
- Kala-Balge residents at Goni Kachallari Primary School, Mafa Road
- Marte residents at Kachamari, opposite Shettiram Filling Station, Gamboru-Ngala Road
The REC further outlined that the CVR exercise will be conducted in three phases:
- Phase 1: August 28 – December 10, 2025
- Register display: December 15 – December 21, 2025
- Phase 2: January 5 – April 17, 2026
- Register display: April 20 – April 26, 2026
- Phase 3: May 4 – August 17, 2026
- Register display: August 24 – August 30, 2026
Describing the registration as a “national call to civic duty,” Ma’aji emphasized INEC’s commitment to ensuring that all eligible Nigerians are given the opportunity to participate in the electoral process, despite logistical and security constraints.
He called for continued media collaboration and public cooperation throughout the CVR period and assured that INEC will provide timely updates as the process unfolds.
