INEC Warns Non-Citizens as Phase Two of Voter Registration Kicks Off

ByMoses Alamu1 week Ago1 Mins read104

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned non-citizens against participating in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise across Nigeria.

The Bauchi State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Umar Ibrahim, issued the warning on Thursday during a stakeholders’ interactive session in Bauchi, ahead of the commencement of Phase Two of the CVR in the state.

Ibrahim commended the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security for identifying a non-citizen who was erroneously registered during Phase One of the exercise, and confirmed that statutory steps are being taken to rectify the anomaly.

“As Phase II progresses, the Commission enjoins all stakeholders to continue active voter sensitisation, mobilisation and public enlightenment, to ensure that all eligible citizens avail themselves of the opportunity to register and collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs),” he said.

Danladi Abdulkadir, representing the Controller of the Nigeria Immigration Service in Bauchi State, reiterated that no non-citizen is allowed to vote or be voted for in Nigeria, urging residents to report suspected non-citizens to the appropriate authorities.

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During Phase One, conducted from August 18 to December 10, 2025, INEC recorded 41,973 new voter registrations in Bauchi State, including 22,188 males and 19,785 females. The exercise also recorded 5,298 voter record updates, 5,847 transfers, 1,336 PVC replacements, and registration of 101 Persons with Disabilities.

Phase Two, which began nationwide on January 5, 2026, will run until April 17, 2026. To address challenges from Phase One, including distance to registration centres, overcrowding, and security concerns, INEC will rotate Voter Enrolment Devices among registration areas within each local government from February 2 to April 10, with the final week conducted at LGA offices.

The commission said the rotation schedules are designed to improve access, efficiency, and inclusiveness of the registration process, ensuring eligible citizens can participate fully in Nigeria’s electoral process.