INEC Register Hits 103.4m As Lagos, Kano, Kaduna Top States

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that Nigeria’s National Register of Voters has risen to about 103.4 million following the completion of the three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise and final biometric verification.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Tuesday at a World Press Conference and National Stakeholders Meeting organised by the commission at the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.

Amupitan said the three phases of the CVR exercise produced 10,772,421 new registrations after the completion of the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) exercise.

He said the size of the register further positioned Nigeria as the largest democracy in Africa.

According to the INEC chairman, Lagos State has the highest number of registered voters with 7,488,633, followed by Kano State with 6,570,276 and Kaduna State with 4,662,640.

He said, “The national register of voters now stands at 103 million, making Nigeria the largest democracy in Africa.”

Other states among the top 10 are Katsina with 3,876,051 registered voters; Rivers, 3,736,434; Oyo, 3,588,111; Delta, 3,525,988; Benue, 3,057,225; Ogun, 3,037,981; and Bauchi, 3,012,547.

At the lower end of the table, Ekiti has 1,055,708 registered voters, followed by Bayelsa with 1,200,691. The Federal Capital Territory has 1,772,043 voters, while Yobe and Gombe have 1,733,641 and 1,768,566 respectively.

Amupitan disclosed that male voters account for 53,528,218, representing 51.75 per cent of the register, while female voters stand at 49,900,497, representing 48.25 per cent.

The age distribution shows that voters aged between 35 and 49 constitute the largest group, with 43,265,946 voters, representing 41.83 per cent of the register.

They are followed by voters aged 18 to 34, numbering 29,777,576 or 28.79 per cent; those aged 50 to 69, with 22,982,900 or 22.22 per cent; and voters aged 70 and above, numbering 7,402,291 or 7.16 per cent.

The INEC chairman also said the register contains 232,658 persons living with disabilities across 10 disability categories, representing about 0.23 per cent of the total register.

He added that, in line with Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, the voters’ register would be displayed nationwide for public scrutiny from October 9 to 16, 2026.

According to him, claims and objections arising from the display exercise would subsequently be considered by the commission.

Amupitan further announced that the first phase of the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at all local government centres would commence on October 9.

He urged eligible voters to take advantage of the display and PVC collection exercises to verify their details and ensure they are properly registered ahead of forthcoming elections.