Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
Nigeria’s national register of voters has surpassed 103 million registered voters ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed the figure on Monday, October 5, 2026, in Abuja during a strategic workshop for editors organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in collaboration with the electoral commission.
The latest figure follows the completion of three phases of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which produced 10,772,421 new registrations, subject to the commission’s biometric verification process.
The development comes as INEC moves into another important stage of preparations for the 2027 elections, with nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) scheduled to begin on Friday, October 9, 2026.
INEC Records More Than 10.7 Million New Registrations
According to Amupitan, the three-phase CVR exercise generated more than 10.7 million new voter registrations.
The first phase ran from August 25 to December 10, 2025, during which INEC recorded 2,611,266 registrations.
The second phase began on January 5, 2026, and ended on April 17, producing another 4,121,835 registrations.
The third phase was conducted from May 11 to July 26, 2026, with 3,867,997 registrations recorded.
Combined, the three phases produced 10,772,421 new registrations. INEC said the final figure remained subject to its Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) verification and cleaning processes.
Following the completion of the public display of the Preliminary Register of Voters for claims and objections and the final ABIS cleanup, Amupitan said the national register had moved beyond the 103 million mark.
From 93.4 Million in 2023 to More Than 103 Million
The latest figure represents a substantial increase from the register used for the 2023 general elections.
INEC records show that Nigeria had 93,469,008 registered voters for the 2023 general elections.
The increase of more than nine million registered voters comes as the commission seeks to expand participation ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, the growth in the register does not automatically mean that the same number of people will turn out to vote.
Voter turnout has remained a major concern for Nigeria’s electoral system. INEC previously highlighted a decline in presidential-election turnout from 53.7 per cent in 2011 to 43.6 per cent in 2015, 34.7 per cent in 2019 and 26.7 per cent in 2023.
The figures underline the difference between having a large registered electorate and ensuring that eligible citizens actually participate in elections.
Three-Phase Registration Exercise
The CVR exercise was designed to give eligible Nigerians opportunities to register and update their voter information before the 2027 elections.
INEC also introduced additional technology during the exercise.
During the third phase, the commission introduced an Online Registration Portal, which it said was intended to reduce barriers associated with distance and time.
The commission also introduced printable PVC technology in line with Section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2026.
The technology is intended to reduce the waiting period traditionally associated with the production and collection of physical voter cards.
The changes are part of INEC’s broader attempt to make voter registration and card collection more accessible while strengthening the integrity of the voters’ register.
PVC Collection Begins October 9
With the latest registration exercise completed, attention is now shifting towards voter-card collection.
INEC said nationwide collection of PVCs will begin on October 9, 2026.
The commission has completed the processing and distribution of Phase One PVCs to local government centres and has appealed to the media to help educate citizens about where and how they can collect their cards.
The development means registered voters who participated in the relevant registration phases will need to follow INEC’s collection procedures ahead of the elections.
The commission’s appeal to media organisations also reflects the importance of public information in ensuring that the increase in voter registration translates into actual participation at polling units.
INEC’s Preparations for 2027
The voter-register update is one part of a broader electoral preparation process.
INEC’s official election calendar lists the Presidential and House of Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in participating states are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
The commission has said it is working through the statutory activities required ahead of the elections.
Amupitan said INEC had completed eight of the 14 major statutory activities contained in its timetable and was advancing towards the ninth.
This places the voter register and PVC collection within a wider timetable covering preparations for one of Nigeria’s most consequential electoral exercises.
Register Integrity Remains a Major Issue
While the increase in registered voters is significant, the credibility of the register remains central to public confidence in elections.
INEC has previously identified concerns including duplicate registrations, registration by non-citizens, deceased voters and incomplete or inaccurate records.
The commission has therefore continued using biometric systems to identify and remove problematic entries from the register.
In February, INEC said a credible register of voters was fundamental to free, fair and transparent elections and announced plans for further revalidation and cleaning ahead of 2027.
The use of ABIS in the latest exercise is part of that effort.
For voters, the process is important because an accurate register helps determine who is eligible to participate and where voters are assigned within the electoral system.
For political parties and candidates, the register also provides the framework within which campaigns and voter mobilisation will take place.
What the 103 Million Figure Means
The figure of more than 103 million should be understood as the size of Nigeria’s national register of voters, not as a prediction of how many Nigerians will necessarily cast ballots in 2027.
Actual turnout will depend on several factors, including voter confidence, accessibility of polling units, security conditions, political mobilisation and citizens’ willingness to participate.
The previous election cycle demonstrated that registration alone does not guarantee high turnout.
INEC’s own data showing a significant decline in presidential-election turnout over successive election cycles have made voter participation a central issue for Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
The challenge ahead is therefore twofold: maintaining an accurate register while ensuring that eligible voters are sufficiently informed and able to participate.
Technology and the Electoral Process
Technology is becoming increasingly important to Nigeria’s electoral administration.
INEC’s use of biometric verification is aimed at reducing duplicate entries and improving the integrity of the voters’ register.
The commission has also continued to deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as part of its broader electoral technology framework.
The introduction of online registration and printable PVC technology during the latest CVR exercise represents another attempt to reduce administrative barriers for voters.
However, technology alone cannot guarantee public confidence.
The commission will still face the practical challenges of logistics, voter education, security, accessibility and effective communication as election day approaches.
Why It Matters
The expansion of Nigeria’s voter register to more than 103 million places a larger electorate at the centre of the country’s preparations for the 2027 elections.
Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and its elections have implications extending beyond its borders, making the credibility and inclusiveness of its electoral process important both domestically and internationally.
A larger register could potentially mean broader political participation if registered citizens eventually turn out to vote.
At the same time, the size of the register increases the logistical demands placed on INEC, from voter-card distribution and polling-unit planning to election-day accreditation and result management.
The commission will therefore need to ensure that the expansion of the register is matched by effective planning and credible election administration.
Reactions and Stakeholder Responsibilities
INEC has called on the media to play an active role in informing citizens about PVC collection and other stages of the electoral process.
The appeal places additional responsibility on journalists and editors to provide accurate information and counter misinformation as the election approaches.
Political parties and candidates also have a role in encouraging lawful participation while avoiding violence, hate speech and other conduct that could undermine the electoral process.
The wider public, meanwhile, will need to verify information through official channels rather than relying on unconfirmed claims circulating on social media.
The credibility of the 2027 elections will ultimately depend not only on INEC but also on the conduct of political actors, security agencies, the media, civil society and voters.
What Happens Next
The immediate next step is the nationwide collection of PVCs, scheduled to begin on October 9, 2026.
INEC is expected to continue implementing the remaining activities on its 2027 election timetable while maintaining the voters’ register and addressing legitimate claims or corrections.
The commission’s official timetable currently places the Presidential and House of Assembly elections on January 16, 2027, followed by Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in participating states on February 6, 2027.
Voters who registered during the recent CVR exercise will need to pay attention to official INEC announcements concerning card collection and other election-related procedures.
The commission will also face the continuing task of ensuring that the register remains accurate as the country moves closer to the polls.
The Bigger Electoral Picture
Nigeria’s voter register has grown considerably since the 2023 elections, but the central test will be whether the electoral system can convert that numerical increase into a credible and meaningful democratic process.
The more than 103 million figure demonstrates the scale of the electorate that INEC will have to manage in 2027.
It also makes voter education, logistics, technology, security and transparent election administration increasingly important.
For ordinary Nigerians, the most immediate issue is practical: ensuring that eligible registered voters know where and when to collect their PVCs and understand the procedures required to participate in the election.
For INEC, the task is broader — maintaining an accurate register, delivering election materials and technology effectively, and ensuring that the electoral process commands public confidence.
With the 2027 elections approaching, the latest register figure marks another major milestone in Nigeria’s electoral preparations.
The number is large, but the credibility of the election will ultimately be measured not simply by how many people are registered, but by how accurately the register reflects eligible citizens and how effectively those citizens are able to exercise their constitutional right to vote.
Weng Global — Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
- Nigerian Guild of Editors
- The Guardian Nigeria
- Vanguard
- Daily Nigerian
