By Adekunle Adegboyega
Nigeria’s INEC Voter Register for the 2027 general election has risen above 103 million, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this on Monday at a strategic workshop for media executives organised by INEC in collaboration with Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Abuja.
The workshop, held at BON Hotel Octagon, Jahi District, Abuja, was themed “Strengthening Democracy Through Partnership Among Editors, Civil Society and Electoral Institutions.” It focused on strengthening collaboration between the electoral management body, the media and civil society ahead of the 2027 elections.
INEC Voter Register Records Over 103 Million
According to the INEC Chairman, the National Register of Voters has now surpassed 103 million following the completion of key stages of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
Amupitan said the Commission’s three-phase CVR exercise attracted more than 10.6 million new applicants.
He added that INEC had completed the public display of the Preliminary Register, allowing citizens to make claims and objections, as well as the final Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) cleanup of the register.
The development represents a major milestone in preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The INEC Chairman also announced that nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will commence on Friday, October 9, 2026.
He urged eligible citizens who participated in the registration process to take part in the PVC collection exercise ahead of the 2027 elections.
Amupitan said the Commission was working to ensure that the electoral process remained transparent, technology-driven and credible.
INEC Voter Register and Electoral Technology
The INEC Chairman said the Commission would continue to improve its electoral technologies, particularly the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
According to him, the objective is to strengthen the electoral process and ensure that every valid vote counts and is seen to count.
He stressed that operational efficiency alone could not guarantee democratic stability, noting that public confidence remained central to electoral credibility.
“The ultimate arbiter of electoral integrity is public trust,” Amupitan said.
INEC Calls for Stronger Media Partnership Ahead of 2027
Amupitan called for stronger collaboration between INEC, editors, civil society organisations and other stakeholders as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.
He said the Commission was ready to listen to editorial concerns, address operational challenges and provide timely information to prevent misinformation from filling communication gaps.
The INEC Chairman also urged newsrooms to establish digital fact-verification desks to strengthen the accuracy of electoral reporting.
He pledged that INEC would provide editors with direct access to verify field incidents, logistical developments and security reports in real time.
He further proposed a sustained editorial feedback mechanism between INEC and the Nigerian Guild of Editors to review operational progress and address emerging challenges throughout the 2027 election cycle.
NGE Urges Accurate Reporting of INEC Voter Register 2027
Earlier, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr Eze Anaba, described the workshop as timely given Nigeria’s proximity to another general election.
Anaba said elections were not merely about casting ballots but also about ensuring that citizens had confidence that their votes would count and that electoral institutions would operate fairly and professionally.
He urged editors to uphold accuracy, fairness, balance and public interest in electoral reporting.
The NGE president also called for stronger access to credible and timely information from INEC as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
With the INEC Voter Register now exceeding 103 million, attention is expected to shift to the collection of PVCs, voter verification and other preparations ahead of the general elections.
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