Prof. Joash Amupitan INEC Chairman
INEC Chairman
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says Lagos and Kano states recorded the highest number of registered voters, as the National Register of Voters hit 103 million ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during a World Press Conference and National Stakeholders’ Meeting, convened to mark 100 days to the 2027 general elections.
According to him, Lagos state leads the top 10 states with 7,488,633 registered voters, followed closely by Kano state with 6,570,276 voters, Kaduna – 4,662,640, Katsina – 3,876,05, Rivers – 3,736,434 and Oyo -3,588,11.
He also stated that Delta followed with 3,525,988, Benue – 3,057,225, Ogun – 3,037,981 and Bauchi – 3,012,547 registered voters.
“At the other end of the table, Ekiti State has the lowest number of registered voters, with 1,055,708. It is followed by Bayelsa which has 1,200,691 registered voters.
“The FCT ranks next from the bottom with 1,732,043, followed by Yobe with 1,733,671 and Gombe with 1,768,566,’’ he said.
On the gender distribution, Amupitan said male voters accounted for 53,528,218, representing 51.75 per cent of the register, while female voters number 49,900,497, representing 48.25 per cent.
He added that age profile showed that the register was dominated by voters aged 35 to 49 years, accounting for 43,265,946 voters or 41.83 per cent of the total.
“They are followed by voters aged 18 to 34 years, numbering 29,777,578, representing 28.79 per cent.
“Voters aged 50 to 69 years account for 22,982,900, or 22.22 per cent, while those aged 70 years and above are the smallest age group, with 7,402,291 voters, representing 7.16 per cent,’’ he said.
The INEC chairman also disclosed that persons with disabilities (PWDs), spread across 10 disability categories, accounted for 232,658 represented 0.23 per cent of the total 103.43 million registered voters,
“The largest category is “Others”, with 101,183 voters, accounting for 43.49 per cent of all registered PWDs.
“This is followed by albinism, with 44,023 voters (18.92 per cent) and physical impediment, with 27,141 (11.67 per cent),’’ he stated.
“Those registered under blindness number 19,939 (8.57 per cent), while deafness accounts for 14,326 (6.16 per cent).
“The register also contains 8,832 voters with autism (3.80 per cent), 7,723 with cognitive or learning disabilities (3.32 per cent), and 5,755 with little stature (2.47 per cent).
“The smallest categories are fown syndrome, with 2,080 voters (0.89 per cent), and spinal cord injury, with 1,656 voters (0.71 per cent),’’ he said..
The INEC chairman also disclosed that the final register would be presented to political parties on Dec. 15.
He added in line with Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, the updated register of voters would be displayed for public scrutiny across all registration areas (RAs) from Oct. 9 to Oct. 15 to allow for claims and objections.
Amupitan said that the distribution of Phase 1 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) at local government area centres would also commence on Oct. 9.
Speaking on technological upgrades, the INEC chairman noted that Phase 3 of the CVR introduced an Online Registration Portal to streamline participation, alongside Printable PVC technology under Section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 to eliminate card issuance delays.
On candidate nominations, he said that 18 of the 22 registered political parties submitted 36 presidential and vice-presidential candidates via the INEC Candidates Nomination Portal (ICNP).
According to him, Accord, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Youth Party nominated no presidential candidates, while the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) withdrew its presidential nomination during the substitution window.
He also disclosed that 21 political parties sponsored 1,313 senate candidates, 3,547 House of Representatives candidates, 936 governorship/deputy governorship candidates, and 9,692 state House of Assembly candidates.
He said that while the personal details for state candidates were published on Aug. 29, the final list would be published by the commission on Oct. 10.
Amupitan confirmed that all 112 administrative complaints over candidate substitutions and typos were resolved, except those undergoing litigations.
“However, we have recently received complaints from some political parties and aggrieved aspirants, drawing our attention to the recent Supreme Court decision in INEC v. Zenith Labour Party delivered on Sept. 24.
“The judgement affirmed the constitutionality of section 77(5)-(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026 and also upholding our Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election.
“We only received the certified true copy of this judgment this morning (Tuesday) and it is being reviewed,” he said.
Amupitan also said that pursuant to court verdicts, INEC had successfully restored 27 previously suppressed state constituencies across Benue, Delta, Jigawa and Kogi states between June and August.
He added that political party primaries and candidate nominations for those constituencies had been completed.(NAN)
