INEC Records 103 Million Registered Voters Ahead Of 2027 Elections
By MELVIN KOFFA
103 Million Voters Registered
THE Independent National Electoral Commission has put Nigeria’s national voter register at more than 103 million ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, announced the figure during a strategic workshop for editors in Abuja.
The workshop was organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors in partnership with the electoral commission.
Amupitan said the increase followed the completion of a three-phase Continuous Voter Registration exercise conducted between August 2025 and July 2026.
Three Phases Add More Than 10.7 Million
The first registration phase began on 25 August 2025, and ended on 10 December of the same year.
INEC recorded 2,611,266 new voters during that period.
The second phase followed between 5 January and April 2026, producing another 4,121,835 registrations.
By the third phase, which ran from 11 May to 26 July, the commission had recorded 3,867,997 additional registrations.
The three phases therefore generated a combined 10,772,421 new registrations.
However, INEC said the figure remained subject to Automated Biometric Identification System verification.
The commission subsequently completed its biometric cleanup after displaying the Preliminary Register to allow claims and objections.
Technology Changes Registration & PVC Access
Meanwhile, INEC has expanded its use of technology to make voter registration and card access easier.
During the third registration phase, the commission introduced an Online Registration Portal.
Amupitan said the system was designed to reduce barriers created by distance and time.
INEC also introduced Printable PVC technology under Section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2026.
The chairman said the innovation was intended to make prolonged waiting for voter cards less common.
Digital Tools Used to Prevent Disenfranchisement
According to Amupitan, the new technology has already been useful in addressing voter-access challenges.
He recalled an incident in Osun where PVCs belonging to voters in some wards were stolen before an election.
Rather than allow the theft to prevent the affected voters from participating, INEC used its technology to issue replacement printable and downloadable PVCs.
Amupitan said the affected voters used the alternative documents to cast their ballots.
He consequently assured Nigerians that the commission remained committed to preventing voter disenfranchisement.
PVC Collection Starts October 9
As the commission prepares for the next stage, Nigerians who completed registration are being urged to collect their PVCs.
Amupitan announced that nationwide collection would begin on 9 October.
He added that INEC had already completed the processing and distribution of Phase One PVCs to local government collection centres.
The commission also appealed to media organisations to publicise collection locations and provide voters with timely information.
With the national register now exceeding 103 million, attention is shifting from registration to ensuring that eligible voters can obtain their cards and participate effectively in the 2027 elections.
