The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that over 103 million registered voters are now on the national register ahead of the 2027 general elections. This follows the conclusion of a three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise that produced 10,772,421 new registrations, subject to final biometric verification. INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, made this announcement on Monday in Abuja at a strategic workshop with media executives.
The CVR exercise was conducted in three phases between August 2025 and July 2026, with the first phase registering 2,611,266 voters, the second phase registering 4,121,835 voters, and the third phase registering 3,867,997 voters. The total new registrations of 10,772,421 are subject to verification by the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS). INEC introduced an online registration portal during the third phase to reduce barriers associated with distance and time.
INEC has completed eight of the 14 major statutory activities contained in its timetable for the 2027 elections and is advancing towards completion of the ninth. The commission has also completed the public display of the Preliminary Register of Voters for claims and objections, as well as the final ABIS cleanup. Amupitan urged the media to educate registered voters on where and how to collect their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).
Nationwide collection of PVCs is set to commence on Friday. INEC has completed the processing and distribution of Phase One PVCs to all local government centres. The commission is leveraging the Nigerian Guild of Editors and other media executives to inform citizens about PVC collection locations and encourage registered voters to collect their cards promptly.
The 2027 election timetable, revised on February 26, 2026, contains 14 critical statutory activities, which have been converted into an operational execution plan. INEC has commenced nationwide zonal readiness assessments to identify vulnerabilities and address potential bottlenecks ahead of election day. Physical readiness audits and staff engagements have been completed in the South-West and North-West geopolitical zones.
INEC has strengthened measures to ensure neutrality and discipline among its personnel ahead of the elections. All electoral officers and temporary personnel will be required to take an oath of neutrality, pursuant to Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2026. The commission has zero tolerance for partisanship, administrative negligence, or compromised ethics.
The commission is also upgrading its technological infrastructure, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), result-management systems, and cybersecurity architecture. INEC is strengthening collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to prevent vote-buying and ensure a free and fair election.
Key points
- Over 103 million Nigerians are registered to vote in the 2027 general elections.
- PVC collection commences on Friday.
- INEC has completed eight of 14 major statutory activities for the 2027 elections.
