Trust has long been a concern in Nigeria’s electoral process, with many Nigerians sceptical of the electoral umpire. INEC’s adoption of technology and other innovations initially raised expectations that the 2023 election would strengthen public confidence. However, the “infamous” technical glitch, which remained unresolved before the results were declared, significantly undermined trust in the commission.
The appointment of INEC’s new chairman prompted several allegations, including claims that Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN) represented President Tinubu and the APC in the last presidential election and that he operated a Twitter, now X, account promoting the president’s interests. Both claims were debunked.
These allegations signalled that both the new chairman and INEC would face heightened scrutiny. Nigerians are likely to closely assess the commission’s actions and omissions against electoral laws and its own regulations.
Against this backdrop, Nigerians have raised concerns about the voter register for the 2027 elections. Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 requires INEC, within the legally prescribed period, to publish the register on its official website and display it at every registration area for seven days for public scrutiny.
The provision states: “Subject to the provisions of section 9 (6) of this Act, the commission shall, not later than 90 days to a general election, appoint a period of seven days during which a copy of the voters’ register for each local government, area council, or ward shall be displayed or published for public scrutiny at every registration area and on its official website or any website established by the commission for that purpose.”
This exercise enables registered voters to confirm their details and the public to identify omissions or questionable entries before the register is finalised. Although the register has been displayed at registration areas, INEC has yet to publish it on its website, raising public concern because the commission has provided no convincing explanation for the delay.
A credible election depends heavily on an accurate voter register. The current register is widely believed to be inflated, and publishing it online could make verification and cleanup easier, involving more people and organisations. INEC has reported more than 103 million registered voters, but many Nigerians question this figure because turnout on election day has rarely reached half of the listed electorate.
A state-by-state voter registration breakdown including the FCT
(In descending order)
1. Lagos — 7,488,633
2. Kano — 6,570,276
3. Kaduna — 4,662,640
4. Katsina—3,876,051
5. Rivers—3,736,434
6. Oyo—3,588,111
7. Delta — 3,525,988
8. Benue—3,057,225
9. Ogun—3,037,981
10. Bauchi — 3,012,547
11. Niger — 2,983,476
12. Anambra—2,917,728
13. Plateau — 2,906,570
14. Edo—2,865,263
15. Jigawa — 2,807,811
16. Borno — 2,765,165
17. Imo—2,706,052
18. Sokoto — 2,633,113
19. Akwa Ibom — 2,566,196
20. Adamawa — 2,431,146
21. Osun—2,327,784
22. Kebbi—2,309,503
23. Abia—2,306,520
24. Taraba—2,254,380
25. Kogi — 2,232,398
26. Zamfara — 2,224,017
27. Enugu—2,217,862
28. Nasarawa — 2,137,699
29. Ondo—2,116,057
30. Cross River—1,928,978
31. Kwara—1,916,376
32. Ebonyi — 1,828,056
33. Gombe — 1,768,566
34. Yobe—1,733,671
35. Federal Capital Territory — 1,732,043
36. Bayelsa—1,200,691
37. Ekiti—1,055,708
National total: 103,428,715
Breakdown of Register into Geopolitical Zones
1. North West — 25,083,411 (24.25%)
Kano — 6,570,276; Kaduna — 4,662,640; Katsina — 3,876,051; Jigawa — 2,807,811; Sokoto — 2,633,113; Kebbi — 2,309,503; Zamfara — 2,224,017.
2. South West — 19,614,274 (18.96%)
Lagos — 7,488,633; Oyo — 3,588,111; Ogun — 3,037,981; Osun — 2,327,784; Ondo — 2,116,057; Ekiti — 1,055,708.
3. North Central — 16,965,787 (16.40%)
Benue — 3,057,225; Niger — 2,983,476; Plateau — 2,906,570; Kogi — 2,232,398; Nasarawa — 2,137,699; Kwara — 1,916,376; FCT Abuja — 1,732,043.
4. South-South—15,823,550 (15.30%)
Rivers — 3,736,434; Delta — 3,525,988; Edo — 2,865,263; Akwa Ibom — 2,566,196; Cross River — 1,928,978; Bayelsa — 1,200,691.
5. North East — 13,965,475 (13.50%)
Bauchi — 3,012,547; Borno — 2,765,165; Adamawa — 2,431,146; Taraba — 2,254,380; Gombe — 1,768,566; Yobe — 1,733,671.
6. South East — 11,976,218 (11.58%)
Anambra — 2,917,728; Imo — 2,706,052; Abia — 2,306,520; Enugu — 2,217,862; Ebonyi — 1,828,056.
A Quick Summary
1. North West — 25,083,411 (24.25%)
2. South West — 19,614,274 (18.96%)
3. North Central — 16,965,787 (16.40%)
4. South South—15,823,550 (15.30%)
5. North East — 13,965,475 (13.50%)
6. South East — 11,976,218 (11.58%)
Total — 103,428,715 (100%)
A Regional Breakdown
Northern Nigeria (North West, North East, and North Central): 56,014,673 voters, or 54.16% of the national total.
Southern Nigeria (South West, South South, and South East): 47,414,042 voters, or 45.84% of the national total.
The North has 8,600,631 more registered voters than the South.
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