BREAKING: Nigeria’s voter register hits 103 million — INEC

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan. Photo: INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Monday said Nigeria’s National Register of Voters had risen to over 103 million following the completion of the three-phase Continuous Voter Registration exercise and final biometric cleanup.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this in his keynote address at a One-Day Strategic Workshop for Editors, organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors in collaboration with the commission in Abuja.

Amupitan said the three phases of the CVR exercise produced 10,772,421 new registrations, subject to verification by the Automated Biometric Identification System.

“Following the conclusion of our three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which captured over 10.6 million new applicants, and the completion of the public display of the Preliminary Register for claims and objections, 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,” he declared.

INEC first projected the 100 million voter register mark in August, when the INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, said the voter register, then standing at over 93 million, was expected to surpass 100 million after the completion of the CVR exercise.

In September, the INEC Chairman said the national register was “approaching the 100 million mark ,” following 10,772,421 new registrations during the CVR exercise, subject to ABIS verification.
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The INEC chairman further announced that the nationwide collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards would commence on Friday, October 9, 2026.

He said the commission had completed the processing and distribution of Phase 1 PVCs to all local government centres ahead of the commencement of collection.

He urged the media to inform citizens about collection locations and encourage registered voters to collect their cards promptly.

The INEC chairman also disclosed that the commission had acquired 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the BVAS devices have undergone software hardening, battery optimisation and biometric calibration to prevent accreditation bypass and eliminate manual manipulation.

He said the technological upgrades formed part of the commission’s efforts to strengthen the integrity of the electoral process ahead of the January 16, 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections and the February 6, 2027 Governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls.

“We have instituted hardware, software, and cybersecurity enhancements across our technological architecture. We have acquired 57,000 new BVAS for optimal performance.

“The devices have undergone extensive software hardening, battery optimisation, and biometric calibration to prevent accreditation bypass and eliminate manual manipulation,” the INEC Chairman stated.

The Commission also said it had taken a firm stance against vote-buying ahead of the elections, noting that it had entered a “strengthened coalition” with the Ministry of Justice and anti-graft agencies to prevent such practices.

“The integrity of the ballot box is fatally compromised when a citizen’s vote is treated as a commodity for sale. The Commission is taking an uncompromising stance against vote-buying in all its forms ahead of the 2027 General Election.

“Working through a strengthened coalition with the Federal Ministry of Justice, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, joint financial monitoring teams will be deployed to track illegal campaign spending and conduct undercover surveillance at polling units nationwide,” the Chairman stated.

Amupitan also warned political actors against attempts to trade cash for votes, adding that any party or candidate found in such acts will “face immediate arrest and prosecution under the Electoral Act 2026.”

“Elections must be decided by the conviction of the voter, not the depth of a candidate’s pocket,” he added.

Nathaniel Shaibu

Nathaniel Shaibu is a correspondent at The PUNCH with three years of professional journalism experience. He covers the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), civil society, religion, and the Ministries of Women Affairs and Youth Development. In addition to his primary beats, Nathaniel also reports on politics, metro, security, and judicial matters, bringing clarity and balance to a wide range of public-interest stories. His work reflects hands-on newsroom experience, strong beat knowledge, and a commitment to accurate, responsible journalism.

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