The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that Nigeria's National Register of Voters has surpassed 103 million, following the completion of the three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise and final biometric cleanup. This development was disclosed by INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, during a keynote address at a strategic workshop for editors in Abuja. The CVR exercise recorded 10,772,421 new registrations, subject to verification by the Automated Biometric Identification System.
The INEC chairman revealed that the commission had completed the processing and distribution of Phase 1 Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs) to all local government centers ahead of the commencement of collection. He urged the media to inform citizens about collection locations and encourage registered voters to collect their cards promptly. Nationwide collection of PVCs was set to commence on Friday, October 9, 2026. Amupitan emphasized the importance of this exercise as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
INEC has acquired 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to Amupitan, the BVAS devices have undergone software hardening, battery optimization, and biometric calibration to prevent accreditation bypass and eliminate manual manipulation. These technological upgrades aim to strengthen the integrity of the electoral process.
The commission has taken a firm stance against vote-buying ahead of the elections, forming a strengthened coalition with the Ministry of Justice and anti-graft agencies to prevent such practices. Amupitan warned that any party or candidate found engaging in vote-buying would face immediate arrest and prosecution under the Electoral Act 2026. He emphasized that elections must be decided by the conviction of the voter, not the depth of a candidate's pocket.
Amupitan called for stronger partnership between INEC, editors, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure the credibility of the electoral process. He proposed a sustained editorial feedback mechanism between INEC and the Nigerian Guild of Editors to review operational progress and resolve emerging challenges throughout the 2027 election cycle.
The Director of Voter Education and Publicity Department, Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, identified misinformation and disinformation as major factors contributing to declining citizen participation. She urged media organizations to support INEC by ensuring accurate and timely information reaches citizens, particularly as the commission prepares for the commencement of PVC collection.
INEC remains committed to continuously improving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing Portal to ensure that every valid vote counts and is seen to count. Amupitan identified public trust as a key factor in electoral credibility, emphasizing the need for transparent, technology-driven, and credible electoral processes.
Key points
- INEC begins nationwide PVC collection on Friday, October 9, 2026.
- Nigeria's voter register has risen to over 103 million.
- INEC acquires 57,000 new BVAS devices to enhance electoral integrity.
