2027: Nigeria’s Voter Register Hits 103 Million — INEC

INEC Confirms Over 103 Million Registered Voters

Nigeria’s National Register of Voters has risen to more than 103 million ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed the latest figure on Monday in Abuja during a strategic engagement with media executives organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors in collaboration with the commission. The development follows the conclusion of the three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise and the completion of the commission’s final biometric cleanup.

More Than 10.7 Million New Registrations

INEC said the three phases of the CVR exercise produced a total of 10,772,421 new registrations. The breakdown shows: Phase One: 2,611,266 registrations Phase Two: 4,121,835 registrations Phase Three: 3,867,997 registrations The commission said the registration figures went through the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) verification process as part of efforts to remove duplicate or problematic records. INEC said the final cleanup has now been completed, pushing the national voter register above the 103 million mark.

PVC Collection Begins October 9

Nigerians who registered, transferred their voting locations or requested replacement cards are expected to begin collecting their Permanent Voter Cards from Friday, October 9, 2026. INEC said the first phase of PVC processing and distribution to Local Government collection centres has been completed. The commission is also introducing printable PVC technology, which it says is designed to reduce the lengthy waiting period traditionally associated with the production and collection of voter cards. The technology is also expected to assist voters whose cards are lost or stolen and help prevent eligible citizens from being disenfranchised.

INEC Strengthens BVAS Technology

As preparations intensify, INEC has acquired 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines. The commission says it is upgrading existing electoral technologies rather than introducing completely untested systems close to the 2027 elections. The upgrades include BVAS, electronic result-management systems and other digital infrastructure designed to improve the transparency and reliability of the electoral process. INEC is also deploying an enhanced eEC8A system to digitally authenticate polling-unit results before they are uploaded to the commission’s result-viewing platform.

AI Technology To Support Election Security

The commission says it is deploying artificial intelligence-driven systems to monitor database traffic, identify unusual activity and strengthen cybersecurity around electoral systems. INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan said the commission was particularly concerned about emerging threats involving manipulated digital content, deepfakes and coordinated disinformation. He urged journalists and media organisations to verify election-related information before publication.

INEC Warns Against Vote-Buying

The electoral commission has also stepped up preparations to tackle vote-buying and illegal campaign financing. INEC said it is working with the EFCC, ICPC and Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to monitor campaign expenditure and identify suspicious financial activities. The commission said joint monitoring mechanisms would be used to track illegal campaign spending, while surveillance around polling units would also be strengthened. INEC warned political parties, candidates and their agents that violations of the Electoral Act would attract arrest and prosecution.

INEC Raises Concern Over Election Disinformation

The commission has warned that fake news and manipulated information could pose a serious threat to voter confidence and participation in the 2027 elections. INEC identified deepfakes, fabricated reports, manipulated audio and video, coordinated fake news and premature declarations of election results among the emerging threats. The commission called on media organisations to strengthen their verification processes and rely on confirmed information before publishing election-related reports.

Editors Seek Greater Transparency

President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba, called for an electoral process that would allow Nigerians to determine the outcome of elections through their votes rather than prolonged court battles. He stressed that public confidence depends not only on the conduct of elections but also on citizens' belief that their votes will count and that electoral institutions will operate fairly. Media and civil society representatives at the engagement also called for better communication between INEC and news organisations. They noted that delays or gaps in official information can create room for rumours, speculation and misinformation.

Editors Seek Greater Transparency

President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba, called for an electoral process that would allow Nigerians to determine the outcome of elections through their votes rather than prolonged court battles. He stressed that public confidence depends not only on the conduct of elections but also on citizens' belief that their votes will count and that electoral institutions will operate fairly. Media and civil society representatives at the engagement also called for better communication between INEC and news organisations. They noted that delays or gaps in official information can create room for rumours, speculation and misinformation. What Voters Should Know With the 2027 elections approaching, registered voters are encouraged to: - Confirm their voter registration details. - Collect their PVCs when collection begins. - Verify information from official INEC channels. - Avoid sharing unverified election-related information. - Report suspicious or misleading electoral information through appropriate channels. The 2027 elections are expected to be one of Nigeria's biggest democratic exercises, with the electoral commission now moving deeper into its operational preparations. Virgin Times News will continue to provide verified updates as preparations for the 2027 elections progress. Stay Informed. Stay Ahead.