The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reiterated that Nigerians who pre-register online for the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise must still appear in person at its designated centres to complete the process before obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

The commission explained that online registration alone does not finalize the process since biometric data, particularly fingerprints, must be physically captured to ensure authenticity.

INEC’s Director of ICT, Bayode Lawrence, made this known during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday. He said while applicants may begin the process by submitting their details online, physical presence at an INEC office remains compulsory.

“If it were possible to capture biometrics online, there would be no need for people to come to our centres. But since fingerprint capture must be done physically, applicants are required to visit the registration points,” he said.

Lawrence emphasized that the measure is necessary to protect the credibility of the voter register and to prevent irregularities such as duplication or manipulation of records.

He further disclosed that INEC is collaborating with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to possibly integrate national ID data into future registration exercises, which may streamline the process.

For those without internet access, Lawrence said physical registration can still be done directly at local INEC offices. He added that voters with damaged PVCs can also request replacements through the INEC portal, where their details will be updated before a new card is issued.