INEC has released the latest voter figures ahead of 2027, with Lagos, Kano and Kaduna topping the list of states with the most registered voters
Lagos State has retained its position as Nigeria’s state with the highest number of registered voters ahead of the 2027 general elections, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Also read:Â INEC begins distribution of materials ahead of 2027 polls
INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, disclosed the latest figures on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, during the commission’s World Press Conference in Abuja as preparations intensify for the 2027 polls.
The figures show that Lagos has 7,488,633 registered voters, giving it a substantial lead over Kano State, which has 6,570,276 voters. Kaduna State ranks third with 4,662,640 registered voters.
The updated distribution comes after INEC completed its three-phase Continuous Voter Registration exercise and the final biometric clean-up of the voters’ register.
The commission said the national register now contains 103,428,715 registered voters, following the addition and verification of more than 10.7 million new registrations recorded during the latest CVR exercise.
Amupitan said the latest figures underline the scale of the electorate that will participate in the 2027 elections.
After Lagos, Kano and Kaduna, Katsina State occupies the fourth position with 3,876,051 registered voters.
Rivers State comes fifth with 3,736,434, while Oyo State ranks sixth with 3,588,111 registered voters.
Delta State is seventh with 3,525,988, followed by Benue State with 3,057,225.
Ogun State ranks ninth with 3,037,981, while Bauchi State completes the top 10 with 3,012,547 registered voters.
The latest ranking means five of the 10 states with the largest voter populations are in southern Nigeria, while the other five are in the North.
Lagos alone accounts for more than 7.4 million registered voters, giving it a sizeable electoral base as political parties position themselves for the 2027 contest.
The figures also highlight the changing scale of Nigeria’s electorate since the 2023 general elections.
INEC said the three phases of the latest CVR exercise produced 10,772,421 new registrations, although the commission subjected the new records to biometric verification and clean-up before updating the register.
The increase in registered voters comes as INEC moves into a more intensive phase of preparations for the 2027 elections.
The commission has also commenced other electoral preparations, including procurement of additional BVAS devices and logistics for the polls.
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
INEC’s official website currently lists January 16, 2027 as the date for the presidential and National Assembly elections.
For voters, the completion of the register is significant because the figures will help determine the scale of election logistics, voter services and deployment requirements across the country.
INEC has also announced that nationwide collection of newly issued Permanent Voter Cards is due to begin on October 9, 2026, marking another important stage in preparations for the 2027 elections.
With more than 103 million registered voters now on the national register, the distribution across states is expected to remain an important factor in political mobilisation and campaign strategy as Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 elections.
Also read:Â INEC begins distribution of materials ahead of 2027 polls
The latest figures place Lagos firmly at the top, while Kano and Kaduna maintain their positions as the next two states with the largest registered voting populations.
