INEC disowns fake voter registration portal, says exercise closed July 26

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed a counterfeit online voter registration portal, asserting that Nigeria's Continuous Voter Registration exercise concluded on July 26, 2026. INEC alerted Nigerians via a public notice on October 3, 2026, that the electoral registration process had ended, urging citizens to only consult their official communication channels for election-related information.

The fraudulent website falsely announced a new nationwide online voter registration exercise scheduled from September 28 to October 27, 2026. INEC further urged Nigerians to verify election information through their authorized platforms. The Continuous Voter Registration exercise concluded after INEC extended the registration period to accommodate eligible Nigerians for registering or updating their voter details.

This exercise was part of INEC's overall preparations for the 2027 general elections. The revised schedule indicates that election preparations are now underway several months after the discontinuation of voter registration. Election preparations for the 2027 general polls are anticipated to be significantly more costly compared to the previous election cycle.

INEC previously informed the National Assembly that the 2027 general elections would necessitate approximately N873.78 billion in expenses, in addition to a proposed N171 billion for routine operations in 2026, encompassing both bye-elections and off-cycle elections. The projected expenditure encompasses operational, administrative, technological, and capital requirements as INEC readies for the January and February 2027 elections.