Abstract

This observation report by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) presents an independent assessment of the 2025 Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise conducted across Anambra State from 8–20 July 2025, ahead of the November governorship election. The exercise recorded strong citizen participation and was largely peaceful, with voters, including first-time registrants and transfer applicants, demonstrating enthusiasm for the process.

While the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showed commendable responsiveness, including a three-day extension to accommodate high turnout, the exercise was hindered by systemic operational and logistical challenges. These included limited biometric devices, frequent network and equipment failures, inadequate security deployment in volatile LGAs, insufficient accessibility measures for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and elderly voters, and procedural irregularities such as queue-jumping and private registration sessions. Public awareness and civic education were also inadequate, contributing to confusion and limited reach in rural areas.

Despite these shortcomings, the report acknowledges INEC’s professionalism and the peaceful conduct of the exercise as positive indicators for democratic participation. It calls for targeted reforms to strengthen operational efficiency, inclusivity, security arrangements, and public outreach in future CVR exercises. Recommendations focus on standardising registration procedures, scaling up infrastructure, enhancing staff training on inclusivity, improving data management, and fostering community engagement.

By providing evidence-based insights, this report aims to inform electoral stakeholders, INEC, civil society, policymakers, and development partners, on strategies to ensure that Nigeria’s voter registration processes are more credible, inclusive, and resilient, ultimately deepening democratic participation and public trust in elections.