From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The Edo State Youth Parliament has called on young people across the state to seize the opportunity presented by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through its 2025 Nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise to get registered and shape the nation’s polity.
According to INEC, online pre-registration begins on Monday, August 18, 2025, via http://cvr.inecnigeria.org. In-person registration will follow from Monday, August 25, 2025, at all INEC Local Government Area offices and other designated centres nationwide.
The exercise will run from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Mondays to Fridays.
Speaking in Benin City, the Edo State Youth Parliament Speaker, Rt Hon Fawaz Muhammad, described voter registration as the gateway to effective participation in democracy and governance.
“Everything begins with registration. If you don’t register, you cannot vote, and if you don’t vote, your voice is silent when decisions are made about your future. To my fellow young people, especially those just turning 18, this is your moment. Don’t let it pass you by. Go out, register, and be part of the change we all want to see. Our democracy will only be as strong as the voices of its youth,” he said.
The Parliament commended INEC for introducing online and in-person registration options, which will allow first-time voters, those wishing to transfer their voting locations, and those replacing lost or damaged cards to participate easily.
Rt Hon Muhammad further appealed to the government, youth leaders, civil society groups, unions, and community organisations to intensify sensitisation and mobilisation campaigns across Edo State.
“We can’t afford to sit back and watch from the sidelines. The future of Edo and Nigeria is in our hands, and that future starts with simple steps like this. By registering now, we are laying the foundation for the kind of leadership, good governance, and opportunities we want for ourselves and generations after us. It’s our responsibility; together, we can make it count,” he said.
The Edo State Youth Parliament, therefore, urges every young person in Edo to take this exercise seriously, register, and encourage their peers to do the same.
