The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned non-citizens to refrain from participating in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which is currently in its second phase nationwide.
Umar Ibrahim, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Bauchi State, issued the caution on Thursday, January 22, during an interactive session in Bauchi ahead of Phase Two.
He praised the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) for identifying a non-citizen who had been mistakenly registered during Phase One and lauded the cooperation of stakeholders throughout the process.
“In particular, the Commission notes the role played by members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security in identifying a non-citizen who was erroneously registered.
“The Commission has commenced the necessary statutory processes to rectify the anomaly in accordance with the law,” Ibrahim said.
He urged stakeholders to continue efforts in public awareness, mobilisation, and voter sensitisation, encouraging all eligible citizens to register and collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
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“As Phase Two progresses, the Commission enjoins all stakeholders to continue to engage actively in 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,” he added.
Danladi Abdulkadir, representing the Nigeria Immigration Service in Bauchi, reiterated that non-citizens are not allowed to vote or stand for elections, calling on citizens to report any suspected non-citizens to the relevant authorities.
Phase One, conducted between August 18 and December 10, 2025, registered 41,973 new voters in Bauchi State, including 22,188 males and 19,785 females.
The exercise also recorded 5,298 updates to voter records, 3,350 reviews, 5,847 transfers, 1,336 replacements of damaged PVCs, and 101 registrations of persons with disabilities.
Phase Two voter registration, which began nationwide on January 5, 2026, will run until April 17, 2026. To improve accessibility, INEC will rotate Voter Enrolment Devices among registration areas from February 2 to April 10, with the final week reserved for LGA offices.
The rotation schedule is designed to consider voter population, number of polling units, terrain, and anticipated turnout to enhance inclusiveness and efficiency.