As preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections gather momentum, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recorded 6,885,330 new voter registrations through its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. The figure, compiled across three phases of the nationwide registration, reflects growing public interest in the electoral process despite concerns over voter turnout and election credibility.
The registration exercise, initially scheduled to end on July 10, 2026, was extended by two weeks and officially concluded on July 26, 2026, giving more eligible Nigerians the opportunity to register.
While the number represents one of the largest additions to Nigeria’s voter register in recent years, electoral officials say the final figure will only be confirmed after biometric verification, duplicate removal, and public scrutiny of the provisional register.
INEC Yet to Release Final Official Figure
According to a statement issued by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, the third phase marked the conclusion of the registration exercise after earlier adjustments to accommodate verification processes.
Although reports indicate that nearly 6.9 million Nigerians completed registration, INEC explained that the figure remains provisional until all backend validation processes are completed.
The commission plans to publish the provisional voter register in August for claims and objections, allowing Nigerians to correct personal information, report duplicate registrations, and identify deceased persons still appearing on the register.
Initial Projection Was 10 Million New Registrants
An INEC official, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to discuss the exercise publicly, disclosed that the commission originally projected 10 million new registrations.
If achieved, Nigeria’s total registered voters would have exceeded 103 million, compared to:
84,004,084 registered voters in 2019
93,469,008 registered voters in 2023
Although the current figure falls below expectations, electoral experts say the registration exercise remains one of the country’s largest voter expansion efforts.
The official stressed that only after biometric de-duplication and verification would INEC announce the official number of valid new voters.
Breakdown of Registration Across Three Phases
INEC’s data shows that registration occurred through both online pre-registration and physical biometric capture.
Phase I (August – December 2025)
Total registrations: 2,685,725
Online pre-registration: 1,576,137
Physical registration: 1,109,588
Phase II
Total registrations: 1,228,648
Online: 673,124
Physical: 555,524
Phase III
Total registrations: 2,970,957
Online: 1,382,227
Physical: 1,588,730
Overall:
Online registrations: 3,631,488
Physical registrations: 3,253,842
Kano Leads State-by-State Registration
Analysis of registration figures shows that Kano State recorded the highest number of new voters with 465,964 registrations.
Other leading states include:
Kano – 465,964
Lagos – 350,337
Sokoto – 338,730
Imo – 251,309
Osun – 238,240
Borno – 201,724
Several other states, including Jigawa, Delta, Taraba, Kaduna, Bauchi, Benue, Ogun, Rivers, Oyo, Katsina and Adamawa, also recorded significant registration numbers.
North-West Emerges Highest Performing Region
Regional analysis indicates that the North-West geopolitical zone recorded the highest number of registrations nationwide.
Regional totals include:
North-West – 1,560,531
South-East – 830,774
North-Central – 784,632
South-South – 772,503
South-West – 758,170
North-East – 753,431
Analysts attribute the North-West’s performance largely to strong participation in Kano, Sokoto and Jigawa states.
Youth and Women Dominate Registration
One of the most striking trends in the registration exercise is the overwhelming participation of young Nigerians.
According to INEC:
18–34 years: 2,003,183 registrants
35–49 years: 645,651
50–69 years: 294,443
70 years and above: 27,680
Women also slightly outnumbered men.
Women: 1,561,765 (52.57%)
Men: 1,409,192 (47.43%)
The data suggests increasing political awareness among Nigerian youths, many of whom will be voting in a general election for the first time.
Students Form Largest Occupational Group
INEC’s occupational analysis revealed that students represented the largest category of new registrants.
The leading occupations include:
Students – 1,833,160
Business owners – 1,366,159
Housewives – 1,181,206
Farmers and fishers – 998,074
Artisans – 214,308
Traders – 190,785
Civil servants – 166,057
Public servants – 127,862
The commission also registered 32,361 persons living with disabilities, highlighting efforts to make voter registration more inclusive.
Controversies Surrounding the CVR Exercise
Despite its success, the registration exercise experienced several challenges.
Registration was temporarily suspended in some states due to off-cycle elections, including the Federal Capital Territory and Osun State.
Another major controversy surrounded INEC’s proposed nationwide voter revalidation exercise, which drew criticism from political parties and civil society groups.
Following public backlash, the commission suspended public implementation while continuing internal preparations to improve the quality of the voter register through technology and biometric verification.
Experts Call for Better Voter Turnout
Political scientist Professor Kamilu Sani Fage welcomed the increase in voter registration but warned that the numbers would have little democratic value unless Nigerians actually participate on election day.
According to him, Nigeria has consistently recorded low voter turnout despite having millions of registered voters.
He urged INEC and political parties to intensify voter education campaigns, encourage Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection, and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
Fage also emphasized the importance of removing duplicate registrations before the final voter register is published.
Public Opinion Shows Growing Interest in 2027 Elections
An online opinion survey conducted ahead of the elections suggests many Nigerians remain willing to vote despite concerns about electoral credibility.
Among the respondents:
Most indicated they plan to participate in the 2027 elections.
Many described voting as both a civic responsibility and a means of bringing positive change.
Others expressed skepticism, citing concerns that election outcomes may not accurately reflect votes cast.
The survey also found that most respondents already possess Permanent Voter Cards, while those without PVCs cited work commitments, ongoing registration processes, or lack of confidence in the system.
What Happens Next?
With voter registration now concluded, INEC’s next major task will be cleaning the register through biometric verification and removing duplicate or invalid entries.
The commission is expected to publish the provisional register for public inspection before releasing the final certified voters’ register ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The coming months will also see intensified voter education, PVC collection, political party primaries, and election preparations as Nigeria moves closer to another crucial democratic transition.
In conclusion, the registration of nearly 6.9 million new voters represents an important milestone in Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 general elections. While the figure is slightly below INEC’s initial target, it demonstrates continued public interest in democratic participation.
However, the success of the elections will ultimately depend not only on the number of registered voters but also on the credibility of the electoral process, the accuracy of the voter register, and the willingness of Nigerians to turn out and cast their ballots on election day.