How To Transfer Registered Voters In Nigeria

If you have registered previously in one center but wished to vote in another because of one reason or the other, It is now possible, e.g If you register in Lagos but now you have moved to Abuja and you will be voting in Abuja, You will need to have your register transferred so you can do that in Abuja and good-news, the process is not cumbersome.

During the registration of voters, eligible persons are advised to register at the centres nearest to their residence. This is to make it easy for the voter to access the Polling Unit (PU) and vote on Election Day. It should be noted that due to restrictions of movement of people and vehicles, a voter who registered far from his or her residence may find it difficult to get to the polling unit to vote. However, a person who has relocated to another place, outside the unit in which he/she registered cannot vote in his/her new location unless he/she transfers his/her registration.

Procedure for Transfer:

• Step 1

The person who intends to transfer his/her registration will apply to INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner through the Electoral Officer f the Local Government Area where he/she is currently residing.

Note: the application should contain the current address of the applicant as this will assist in allocating the polling unit nearest to him/her.

• Step 2

The applicant will fill a form ECTF 001 (Application for transfer of registered voter)

• Step 3

The applicant will attach a photocopy of his/her Permanent Voter Card (PVC) to the application.

Note that the applicant must apply to the Resident Electoral Commissioner in good time, well before sixty (60) days to the election, as no transfer can be entertained or granted less than 60 days to the election.

• Step 4

The Electoral Officer (EO) of the applicant’s Local Government Area on receiving the application shall;

1. Assign the applicant to the nearest polling unit to his/her new residence
2. Enter the applicant’s details in the transferred voters’ list

• Forward the application to the Resident Electoral Commissioner for approval.
• Step 5

If the Resident Electoral Commissioner is satisfied that the applicant is currently resident in the new area, he/she shall approve the application and direct that the applicant’s details be transferred to his/her new location.

N.B: The Commission may require evidence such as Utility Bill, Water Bill for confirmation of residence.

• Step 6

The Head of Department, ICT on receiving the approved application shall effect the transfer on the server and issue a Temporary Voters Card (TVC) and later the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC).

The applicant’s registration and particulars will then be deleted from the register of voters in the previous location.

• Step 7

The Electoral Officer will issue the applicant with a new Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) and retrieve the previous one.

• Step 8

The applicant is informed to visit the INEC Local Government Area office (that covers the area he/she has applied for a transferred to) to find if the transfer has been effected and to pick up the Permanent Voter Card  in person as collection by proxy is not allowed.

See also : INEC Nigeria ; National Headquarters, Address & Contacts