Lagos, Kano, Kaduna Top INEC's Voter Register Ahead of 2027 Polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that Lagos, Kano, and Kaduna states currently hold the largest populations of registered voters in anticipation of the 2027 general elections. This announcement came from INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, during a stakeholders' meeting and a subsequent press conference held in Abuja on Tuesday, where he provided a comprehensive update on the nation's voter register.

Professor Amupitan confirmed that the updated register now boasts over 103 million voters, a figure achieved after the successful conclusion of the commission's three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) initiative and a thorough biometric data clean-up. According to his statement, Lagos State leads the pack with a substantial 7,488,633 registered voters, closely followed by Kano State with 6,570,276, and Kaduna State securing the third position with 4,662,640 registered voters.

Amupitan elaborated, stating, "The top 10 states, ranked by their number of registered voters, begin with Lagos State in the leading spot, holding 7,488,633 registered voters. Kano State follows with 6,570,276. Kaduna State is next, with 4,662,640 voters, and then Katsina State, with 3,876,051." He then identified Rivers State as the fifth highest, with 3,736,434 registered voters, preceding Oyo State, which has 3,588,111, and Delta State, recording 3,525,988. The INEC chairman continued, listing: "Benue State accounts for 3,057,225; Ogun State, 3,037,981; and finally, Bauchi State completes the top ten with 3,012,547 registered voters."

Prior to the conclusive biometric verification and subsequent clean-up of the register, the three-phased CVR initiative successfully processed 10,772,421 fresh registrations. Furthermore, INEC has set October 9, 2026, as the commencement date for the nationwide collection of newly issued Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

Conversely, at the lower end of the registration count, Ekiti State has the fewest voters with 1,055,708, with Bayelsa State just above it at 1,200,691. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) stands third from the bottom, registering 1,732,043 voters, followed by Ondo State with 1,733,641, and Gombe State with 1,768,560. Amupitan confirmed the grand total of registered voters nationwide to be 103,428,715.

Providing a demographic insight into the register, the INEC chairman stated that male voters comprise 53,528,218 individuals, accounting for 51.75 percent, whereas female voters are 49,900,497, making up 48.25 percent of the total. He highlighted that the age demographic of 35 to 49 years forms the largest segment, with 43,265,946 voters, which translates to 41.83 percent of the entire register. Additionally, individuals between 18 and 34 years old total 29,777,576, representing 28.79 percent, while voters in the 50 to 69 age bracket contribute 22,982,900, or 22.22 percent. The smallest age cohort consists of voters aged 70 and above, numbering 7,402,291, which is 7.16 percent of the registered population.

The commission further documented 232,658 persons with disabilities (PWDs) across ten distinct categories, constituting approximately 0.23 percent of the overall voter register. According to Amupitan, the most significant category among registered PWDs is labeled "others," comprising 101,183 voters, or 43.49 percent. Following this are individuals with albinism, numbering 44,023 (18.92 percent), and those with physical impairment, totaling 27,141 (11.67 percent). The voter list also includes 19,936 persons with visual impairment, accounting for 8.57 percent, and 14,326 persons with hearing impairment, making up 6.16 percent.

The INEC chairman detailed that 8,832 voters are registered under the autism category (3.80 percent), while 7,723 are identified with cognitive or learning disabilities (3.32 percent). He further noted that 5,755 voters fall under limb impairment (2.47 percent), with Down syndrome accounting for 2,008 voters (0.89 percent), and spinal cord injury cases totaling 1,656 (0.71 percent).

In adherence to Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, Amupitan also announced that the comprehensive register of voters would be made available for public review and scrutiny between October 9 and 15, 2026. This public display, he explained, is designed to enable Nigerians to meticulously examine the register and submit any objections or claims they may have prior to the upcoming 2027 general elections. Amupitan concluded by reiterating, "The register of voters will be displayed for public scrutiny from the 9th to 15th of October 2026, which is no later than 90 days before the general election."