The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that Nigeria's voter register has surpassed 103 million, ahead of the 2027 general elections. This update was provided by INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, during a strategic workshop with media executives in Abuja. The workshop, themed "Strengthening Democracy Through Partnership Among Editors, Civil Society and Electoral Institutions," aimed to foster collaboration between INEC, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), and civil society organizations.
The Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, conducted in three phases, attracted 10,772,421 new registrants. The breakdown shows 2,611,266 registrations in the first phase, 4,121,835 in the second, and 3,867,997 in the third phase. However, these figures are subject to final verification following the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) exercise. Amupitan emphasized that the voter register's update is a critical step towards ensuring a credible electoral process.
INEC has completed eight of the 14 major statutory activities outlined in its timetable for the 2027 elections. According to Amupitan, the preparations have entered the "amber zone" as the election countdown intensifies. The commission will conduct a preliminary display of the voters' register for claims and objections from October 9 to 15, 2026. This step is crucial for ensuring the accuracy of the voter register.
Nationwide collection of Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs) will commence on October 9, with newly produced cards distributed to Local Government Area collection centers. INEC has introduced printable PVC technology to reduce the waiting period for voters to obtain their cards. This technology will also help eligible voters who lose their cards or have them stolen to avoid disenfranchisement.
To strengthen its technological infrastructure, INEC has acquired 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines. The commission has chosen to improve existing electoral technologies rather than introduce untested systems shortly before the 2027 elections. The upgraded BVAS, enhanced electronic result management system, and other technologies aim to ensure that every valid vote counts and is seen to count.
INEC is working with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to monitor campaign spending and prevent vote-buying and illegal campaign financing. A joint financial monitoring mechanism will track suspicious and illegal campaign expenditure, while surveillance around polling units will be strengthened.
Amupitan expressed concern over the spread of false information on social media, describing it as "citizenship terrorism through social media." He urged editors and journalists to verify information before publication, warning that false reports could suppress voter turnout, create panic, and undermine credible elections. INEC is strengthening logistics and field operations, with readiness audits completed in the South-West and North-West geopolitical zones.
Key points
- Nigeria's voter register has reached 103 million, with 10.7 million new registrants added through the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
- INEC has completed eight of the 14 major statutory activities outlined in its timetable for the 2027 elections.
- The commission is working with anti-corruption agencies to monitor campaign spending and prevent vote-buying and illegal campaign financing.
