Nigerian citizens aged eighteen and over can vote. Elections are run by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and you vote at the polling unit where you registered.
Registering
INEC registers new voters through its Continuous Voter Registration, which runs between elections and pauses before each one. You start online, then complete registration in person, with fingerprints and a photograph, at an INEC registration centre.
Your Permanent Voter Card
The Permanent Voter Card (PVC) is what you vote with. After registration, you collect it from INEC, usually at your local government office.
- Moved to Lagos? You can transfer your registration to a polling unit in Lagos during the registration period, rather than travelling home to vote.
- Lost or damaged card? INEC replaces it, again during the registration period.
Do not leave it to the last weeks: queues are long and registration closes well before an election.
Election day
- Find your polling unit before the day; INEC publishes the details.
- Expect movement restrictions: roads close to vehicles while voting runs.
- Bring your PVC. Your card and your fingerprint or face are checked by the accreditation device at the unit.
- Results are counted and posted at the polling unit, and uploaded by INEC.
Which elections
General elections choose the President, the National Assembly, the Governor and the Lagos State House of Assembly. Separate elections choose local government chairmen and councillors, run by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission.