INEC voter register tops 103 million after biometric checks, with PVC collection set to begin on October 9 ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 elections
Professor Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, has announced that Nigeria’s National Register of Voters has risen to more than 103 million following the completion of the three-phase Continuous Voter Registration exercise and final biometric clean-up.
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With more than 103 million voters now on the register, the next stage will be ensuring that the expanded electorate can access its voter cards and participate effectively when Nigerians go to the polls in January and February 2027.
Amupitan disclosed the figure on Monday in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at a strategic workshop for editors organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors in collaboration with INEC.
The announcement places the INEC 103m voters figure at the centre of preparations for the 2027 general elections, with nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards scheduled to begin on Friday, October 9.
The three-phase registration exercise produced 10,772,421 new registrations, according to the commission.
The figure followed the completion of the public display of the Preliminary Register of Voters for claims and objections and the final Automated Biometric Identification System verification process.
“Following the conclusion of our three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise … our Voter Register Department has completed the final Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) cleanup. Nigeria’s National Register of Voters is now over 103 million,” Amupitan said.
The registration figure was built across three phases. The first, conducted from August 25 to December 10, 2025, recorded 2,611,266 registrations.
The second, held from January 5 to April 17, 2026, produced 4,121,835 registrations, while the third phase, from May 11 to July 26, recorded 3,867,997.
Together, the three phases generated 10,772,421 registrations, although the final register reflects the subsequent biometric verification and clean-up process.
The development marks a significant increase from the 93,469,008 voters recorded on the national register for the 2023 general elections.
INEC had earlier identified duplicate registrations, registrations by non-citizens, deceased voters and incomplete or inaccurate records as challenges requiring attention before the 2027 elections.
The commission is now moving from registration towards voter-card collection.
Amupitan said Phase One Permanent Voter Cards had been processed and distributed to all local government centres ahead of Friday’s nationwide collection exercise.
He urged the media to help citizens identify collection locations and encouraged registered voters to collect their cards promptly.
The commission has also stepped up its technological preparations for the elections.
Amupitan said INEC had acquired 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices, which had undergone software hardening, battery optimisation and biometric calibration.
The upgrades are intended to strengthen accreditation procedures and reduce opportunities for manipulation as INEC prepares for the 2027 polls.
The commission’s preparations extend beyond hardware.
Amupitan said INEC had introduced wider technological and cybersecurity measures across its electoral architecture, including efforts to protect its systems against unauthorised access and manipulation.
The 2027 elections will take place in two stages under INEC’s revised timetable. Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
The timing of the new register therefore places voter-card collection among the most immediate tasks facing the commission and registered voters alike.
Amupitan also used the workshop to issue a strong warning against vote-buying, saying INEC was working with the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
“The integrity of the ballot box is fatally compromised when a citizen’s vote is treated as a commodity for sale,” he said.
According to the chairman, joint financial monitoring teams will track illegal campaign spending and conduct surveillance at polling units. He warned that political actors involved in buying votes could face arrest and prosecution under the Electoral Act 2026.
Amupitan also appealed to editors and news organisations to strengthen verification ahead of the election, pointing to the growing risks posed by misinformation, deepfakes and manipulated audio-visual material.
The call comes as INEC seeks closer cooperation with the media ahead of what will be a major test of voter participation and public confidence in the electoral process.
Also read: NDC Claims Peter Obi Has Strong Anambra Support
With more than 103 million voters now on the register, the next stage will be ensuring that the expanded electorate can access its voter cards and participate effectively when Nigerians go to the polls in January and February 2027.
