INEC data shows women outnumber men in the 3.87 million voters recorded in the latest phase of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recorded a cumulative 10,399,288 completed registrations across the three phases of the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ahead of the 2027 general election.
Women accounted for the majority of the 3,867,997 registrations recorded in the just-concluded third phase.
Statistics released by the commission on Wednesday showed that 3,867,997 Nigerians successfully completed the online and physical registration process during the final phase of the exercise, which ended on July 26, 2026.
Of the total registrations recorded in the third phase, 2,037,589 were women, representing 52.68 per cent, while 1,830,408 were men, accounting for 47.32 per cent.
The commission said 1,170,134 registrations were completed online, while 2,697,863 were carried out physically at registration centres nationwide.
Three-Phase Exercise Records Over 10 Million Registrations
The third phase, which ended on July 26 after a 16-day extension from the initial July 10 deadline, marked the final leg of INEC’s year-long Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which began on August 18, 2025, in preparation for the 2027 general election.
The first phase, which ended on December 10, 2025, recorded 2,782,587 completed registrations. The second phase, conducted between January 5 and April 17, 2026, added another 3,748,704 registrations, comprising 2,259,288 online pre-registrations and 1,489,416 physical registrations.
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With the additional 3,867,997 registrations recorded in the third phase, the cumulative total across the three phases now stands at 10,399,288.
If all the registrations are validated and added to the existing register, Nigeria’s voter register could rise from the 93,469,008 registered voters used for the 2023 general election to more than 103 million ahead of the 2027 polls.
However, INEC noted that the figures remain provisional and would undergo data clean-up through the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), where multiple registrations, deceased voters and other irregularities would be removed before the final register is published.
The commission also disclosed that voter registration remained suspended in Osun State because of the forthcoming governorship election, in line with Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022.
Youths, Students Dominate Registrations
The latest figures also showed that young Nigerians dominated the registration exercise. Registrants between the ages of 18 and 34 accounted for 2,602,960, representing 67.29 per cent of the total.
Those aged 35 to 49 years recorded 843,757 registrations, while 386,095 registrants were between 50 and 69 years. Citizens aged 70 years and above accounted for 35,185 registrations.
Students formed the largest occupational group with 892,946 registrations, followed by businesspersons with 810,452. Farmers and fishers accounted for 649,358 registrations, housewives 640,569, artisans 204,660, traders 175,206, civil servants 97,328 and public servants 65,114.
INEC also recorded 41,092 registrations by persons with disabilities. The figure includes 20,601 persons classified under the “Others” category, 7,038 persons with albinism, as well as registrants who are blind, deaf, autistic, physically challenged, of little stature, living with Down syndrome, spinal cord injuries and cognitive learning disabilities.
Kano Leads as Osun Records No Registrations
A state-by-state breakdown showed that Kano recorded the highest number of completed registrations during the third phase with 330,906, comprising 106,905 online and 224,001 physical registrations.
Lagos followed with 181,254 registrations, Delta recorded 166,895, Edo 156,150, Ebonyi 146,507 and Sokoto 145,160.
Other states with strong registration figures included Taraba (141,649), Ogun (136,921), Bauchi (128,753), Jigawa (125,155), Oyo (125,144), Kogi (123,298) and Kaduna (121,872).
Benue recorded 107,957 registrations, Anambra 108,163, Nasarawa 107,854, Imo 107,510, Bayelsa 102,840, Cross River 101,672, Katsina 96,764, Kebbi 96,214, Niger 95,807, Kwara 95,582 and Gombe 95,334.
Ekiti recorded the lowest number of registrations with 2,276, while Ondo recorded 23,824. Osun recorded no registrations because the exercise was suspended ahead of the state’s governorship election.
North-West Tops Regional Registrations
Across the six geopolitical zones, the North-West recorded the highest number of registrations with 993,117. The South-South followed with 680,715, while the North-Central recorded 628,776.
The North-East registered 595,218 voters, the South-East recorded 500,752, while the South-West posted the lowest figure of 469,419, largely because registration did not take place in Osun State.
Lagos led the online registration category with 119,761 registrations, followed by Kano with 106,905, Ogun with 75,072, Sokoto with 71,136, Kaduna with 62,935 and Delta with 61,365.
Physical registration remained the preferred option nationwide, accounting for nearly 70 per cent of all completed registrations, with Kano again recording the highest number at 224,001.
INEC said all the figures remain subject to claims and objections by citizens, verification through the Automated Biometric Identification System and other statutory processes before the final register of voters for the 2027 general election is published.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.