Hit a problem while using the INEC portal?
You're not the first to hit this. We've gathered the problems people run into most, and what has worked for others.
The portal won't load, or says "Request blocked"
Why this may be happening
This is usually a busy period — a lot of people trying to use the portal at the same time. It isn't your network or your details, and refreshing over and over tends to make it worse.
What you can try
Try again outside the busiest hours — before 9am or after 3pm has worked for many people. Close the page, wait a while, then come back rather than tapping refresh. If you are outside Nigeria, see the next issue below.
I'm outside Nigeria and the portal won't open
Why this may be happening
Access to the portal is currently limited to people inside Nigeria, so it won't open from abroad no matter how good your connection is. Nothing is wrong with your device.
What you can try
Ask someone you trust in Nigeria — a friend or family member — to help you. Helping another person register is allowed, as long as you have given your consent.
I'm not receiving the OTP code
Why this may be happening
The most common reason is that the phone number you entered isn't linked to your NIN. It can also be a network delay or a temporary glitch on the portal.
What you can try
First, link your number to your NIN: dial *996*NIN# on the phone line you're registering with (put your own NIN in place of "NIN"). If your number is already linked, clear your browser cache and try again a little later.
I got the OTP, but there's nowhere to type it
Why this may be happening
This looks like a technical glitch — when the code is resent, the box to type it into sometimes doesn't appear.
What you can try
Clear your browser cache and start the registration again. If it keeps happening, consider choosing Pre-registration instead and booking a biometrics appointment at your nearest INEC office.
I can't download the INEC CVR app on my iPhone
Why this may be happening
The INEC CVR app isn't available for iPhone at the moment, so the download won't work. Nothing is wrong with your phone.
What you can try
You don't need the app. On that same screen, choose "Use Your Browser to Continue" — it sits just below "Click Here to Open the INEC CVR" — and carry on from there.
The app says my device isn't secure enough
Why this may be happening
The app checks your Android version and settings, and older phones are turned away with a message about not meeting the security requirements. You often only find this out after downloading it.
What you can try
You'll need an Android phone running a recently released version of Android — updating an older phone rarely helps, as it comes down to the phone's age.
Fingerprint capture times out or fails
Why this may be happening
Two things commonly cause this: not enough light where you're sitting, or holding your hand the wrong way — many people place their fingers vertically, as they would on a fingerprint machine.
What you can try
Move somewhere with better, even lighting and try again. Then place your fingers horizontally (across the screen) rather than vertically.
Nothing happens when I tap the upload button
Why this may be happening
This is usually a technical glitch — you can see the button, but tapping it does nothing. It affects phone browsers most often.
What you can try
Clear your browser cache and try again. If it still won't respond, try the same step on a different phone, or on a laptop or computer — a friend's computer or a business centre is fine just for this step.
I don't know which documents to upload
Why this may be happening
The same form fields appear for every type of request, so you're shown a document upload section even when your request doesn't need one.
What you can try
Unless you're applying to replace a damaged PVC — in which case upload a clear photo of the damaged card — you can skip the document upload and carry on.
A red box says "schedule biometrics" — is my application incomplete?
Why this may be happening
The same form fields appear for every type of request, so the biometrics notice shows up even when it doesn't apply to you. Your application isn't broken.
What you can try
Only people registering for the first time need to schedule biometrics. For a transfer, an update, or a PVC replacement, you can go ahead and submit without scheduling anything.
Everything worked, then it failed at the very last step
Why this may be happening
A number of people have got all the way through and hit an error on final submit — no code, no explanation. You've done nothing wrong. We haven't found a reliable fix for this one yet.
What you can try
Take a short break and try again at a quieter time — that has worked for some. If it still fails, report it with a screenshot so we can track how often it happens and get it looked into.
It says my photo doesn't match what's on the system
Why this may be happening
For returning voters, the system compares your new photo with an older one on file, and sometimes a genuine match is rejected — often where the older photo is poor quality. You've done nothing wrong.
What you can try
Retaking it in good, even light against a plain background has worked for some people — try once or twice. If it keeps failing, report it with a screenshot so we can get it looked into.
We haven't documented that one yet. Tell us what happened and we'll look into it.