The Divided Statewide Electoral Commission (INEC) has disowned a fraudulent internet-based voter registration portal circulating on the internet, warning Nigerians that the nationwide voter registration exercise ended on July 26, 2026.
INEC disclosed this in a people announcement issued on Saturday, October 3, 2026, as preparations carry on for the 2027 large elections.
The electoral body said the fake virtual platform is circulating claims that it has announced a renewed nationwide internet-based voter registration exercise running from September 28 to October 27, 2026, urging Nigerians to rely merely on its approved communication channels for electoral facts.
INEC warns against fake portal
- INEC identified the fraudulent web site as https://tinyurl.com/inecnigeria-cvr-org, describing it as fake and unaffiliated including the Commission. The exercise formed component of the Commission’s broader preparations for the 2027 general elections.
- In February, INEC revised its timetable following the repeal of the Electoral Act 2022 and enactment of the Electoral Act 2026, which altered statutory timelines for pre-election activities.
- Under the revised timetable, the presidential and Nationwide Assembly elections will hold on January 16, 2027, instead of February 20.
- The governorship and Condition Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, rather than March 6.
- INEC said the adjustment was important to align its election calendar using the timelines accepted under the recent electoral law.
The revised timetable means preparations for the elections are already progressing numerous months later than the conclude of the voter registration exercise.
INEC plans N873.78 billion election budget
Preparations for the 2027 widespread elections are expected to come together with substantially greater costs compared including the preceding election cycle. The electoral body warned Nigerians against opening the tie or entering individual details on the platform owing to the reality that of the practical uncertainty of information theft and misuse.“Members of the audience are firmly advised not to click on the tie or submit any customized substance on the site, as doing so may uncover them to the exposure of having their sensitive subjective facts harvested or misused.”
INEC additionally urged Nigerians to review voter registration and other election-linked information throughout its authorised platforms. INEC told the Nationwide Assembly earlier this year that it would contact for regarding N873.78 billion to conduct the elections, in addition to a proposed N171 billion for customary operations in 2026, including bye-elections and off-cycle elections.
- The projected election budget is significantly greater than the N313.4 billion released for the 2023 general elections and includes around N209.21 billion for technology-relevant costs.
- In February, the Senate approved electronic transmission of results whilst providing for signed manual finding sheets to support as the principal ground for collation where electronic transmission is impossible as of network or other technological failures.
- INEC has continued preparations involving electoral technology ahead of the polls, including the configuration of Bimodal Voter Accreditation Framework machines and other election materials required under the 2026 electoral framework.
The projected spending covers functioning, administrative, technology and capital requirements as the Commission prepares for the January and February 2027 polls.
Its approved voter registration portal now states that the Uninterrupted Voter Registration exercise has ended and that the registration procedure is not operating.
Voter registration ended July 26
Nigeria’s Uninterrupted Voter Registration exercise ended on July 26, 2026, later than INEC broadened the registration period to offer eligible Nigerians supplementary time to register or update their voter facts.
Source: INEC disowns fake voter registration portal, says exercise closed July 26
