The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that more than 2.5 million Nigerians have successfully completed online voter pre-registration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, a total of 2,532,062 Nigerians had pre-registered online as of Sunday, August 31, 2025.
The ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which began on August 18, 2025, is now in its second week. INEC’s data shows that of the total pre-registrants, 1,218,482 (48.12%) are male and 1,313,580 (51.88%) are female. A majority of 1,602,484 (63.29%) are between 18 and 34 years old while 647,528 (25.57%) are students.
INEC clarified that online pre-registration is only the first step. Registrants must still appear in person at any of the commission’s 811 State and Local Government offices nationwide to complete biometric capture, including fingerprints and facial details.
“The online pre-registration must be validated physically. This requirement is clearly stated on the portal,” Olumekun emphasized.
The online platform remains open 24/7, allowing Nigerians both at home and abroad to initiate registration. Citizens who prefer in-person registration may visit INEC offices on weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
State-by-state figures show Osun leading with 474,372 pre-registrations, followed by Lagos (355,372) and Ogun (265,399). The Federal Capital Territory recorded 152,250, while Enugu (856) and Ebonyi (490) reported the lowest numbers.
In-person registration, which started on August 25, 2025, had by August 29 seen 72,274 Nigerians complete their registration, either by finalising their online application or registering afresh. Of this number, 35,622 (49.29%) were male, 36,652 (50.71%) female, and 54,718 (75.71%) were youths aged 18–34. Students accounted for 30,953 (42.83%) of the total.
INEC expressed satisfaction with the turnout and praised civic groups for mobilising citizens.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have raised concerns about unusually high figures from some South-West states, particularly Osun. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Labour Party (LP) have both called for closer scrutiny, alleging discrepancies with historical trends. INEC has dismissed the allegations as baseless, with the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, insisting the figures reflect established voter registration patterns.
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