Nigeria’s voter register has crossed 103 million ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Lagos, Kano and Kaduna recording the highest numbers of registered voters.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the figures on Tuesday at a press conference in Abuja. INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan said the register has grown by about 10 million since the 2023 elections, when it stood at 93.4 million.
Top 10 States by Registered Voters
Lagos leads the country with 7,488,633 registered voters, followed by Kano with 6,000,570 and Kaduna with 4,000,640.
Katsina ranks fourth with 3,876,051, ahead of Oyo (3,588,111) and Delta (3,525,988). Benue, Ogun, Rivers and Bauchi round out the top 10, each with figures just above or around three million.
In 2023, only 87.2 million of the 93.4 million registered voters collected their Permanent Voter Cards, leaving over 6 million uncollected.
Supreme Court Judgment Leaves Candidate Eligibility Unclear
INEC says it is still reviewing a recent Supreme Court judgment that restored key sections of the Electoral Act 2026, after receiving the certified copy on October 6.
The ruling, delivered in a case between INEC and the Zenith Labour Party, reinstated provisions on party membership registers and candidate nomination procedures that the Court of Appeal had earlier struck down.
Amupitan said the commission has received complaints from political parties, aspirants and members of the National Assembly asking how the ruling affects the 2027 race. Several high-profile candidates who switched parties after nominations had begun, including Rivers governorship candidate Kingsley Chinda and former Cross River governor Donald Duke, are at the center of the uncertainty.
Legal experts say the judgment restored the disputed provisions but did not rule on any individual candidate’s eligibility. INEC’s review will determine what, if any, action follows.
Voter Register Goes on Public Display October 9
INEC will display the 2027 voter register nationwide from October 9 to 15, giving Nigerians a chance to check their details and raise objections. Amupitan said the exercise satisfies a legal requirement to display the register at least 90 days before the election.
Phase One PVC distribution to Local Government Centres also begins October 9. INEC has introduced an online registration portal, its first, aimed at making registration easier for people far from registration centres. A new printable PVC system is also meant to shorten the wait for physical cards.
The final voter register is expected to reach political parties by December 15.
Will More Registered Voters Mean More Actual Votes?
Analysts are split on whether the larger register will translate into higher turnout in 2027.
Professor Kabiru Sani Fage of Bayero University is doubtful. He points to voter apathy, insecurity and economic hardship as reasons turnout may not improve, even if more people are registered. He noted that Lagos had over seven million registered voters in 2023, yet fewer than two million actually voted.
Professor Saleh Dauda takes a more hopeful view. He believes stronger mobilisation by INEC and political parties could drive turnout up, pointing to increased participation in the recent Osun governorship election as a sign that civic engagement is growing.
Both agree that the number of registered voters alone does not guarantee a more engaged electorate.
