The Young Progressive Party (YPP) has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, warning that the closure could prevent many eligible Nigerians from taking part in the 2027 general elections.
The appeal was made in a statement issued on Sunday and signed by the YPP Chairman in the Federal Capital Territory, Abraham Adedotun, and the party’s FCT senatorial candidate, Blessing Benyeogor.
The party expressed concern that Nigerians who had not registered or completed the registration process before the deadline could be left out of the electoral process.
“The closure of the registration exercise could disenfranchise many Nigerians, particularly young people who had not yet completed the registration process,” the party said.
The YPP said its position was informed by concerns expressed by political stakeholders and civil society organisations regarding access to voter registration and the need to ensure that all eligible citizens could participate in elections.
It called on INEC to consider the plight of Nigerians who were unable to register and introduce measures that would allow them another opportunity to be captured in the voters’ register.
“As preparations for the 2027 elections continue, it is important that no eligible Nigerian is left out of the electoral process,” the party said.
The opposition party also appealed to INEC to maintain its neutrality as the electoral umpire and take steps to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process and democratic institutions.
According to the YPP, reopening or extending the registration window would promote wider voter participation and reduce the possibility of eligible citizens being excluded from the 2027 elections.
INEC had initially scheduled the 2025–2026 CVR exercise to continue until August 30, 2026, before adjusting its timetable and bringing forward the operational deadline, with the final phase later extended to July 26, 2026.
The commission announced on July 26 that the registration exercise would end that day and urged eligible Nigerians who had yet to register to use the remaining hours to do so.
INEC subsequently rejected calls for another extension, explaining that further changes to the timetable could disrupt its preparations for the 2027 elections.
As part of the final phase, the commission also introduced a self-service online registration platform through which eligible first-time voters could begin and complete the registration process electronically.
Despite the closure, the YPP urged INEC to reconsider its position and create another window for Nigerians who were unable to register or complete their registration.
The party maintained that doing so would help prevent the disenfranchisement of eligible citizens, particularly young Nigerians, and ensure broader participation in the 2027 electoral process.
