The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan has announced that the national register of voters is now over 103 million ahead of the 2027 general election.
He added that the commission has commenced early procurement and delivery of non-sensitive materials to state offices and distribution of new operational pick-up vehicles to states and LGAs to address late arrival of materials.
The chairman stressed the assessments of readiness have been completed in the South-West and North-West zones, with other zones to follow.
Amupitan stated this on Monday in Abuja at the Strategic Workshop for Editors organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in collaboration with INEC, with the theme; “Strengthening Democracy Through Partnership Among Editors, Civil Society and Electoral Institutions.”
He also announced that a nationwide collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) would commence on Friday, October 9, 2026.
Amupitan recalled that in line with Section 10 of the Electoral Act 2026, the first Phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) commenced on 25th August 2025 and ended on 10th December 2025, registering a total of 2,611,266 voters.
He stressed that Phase II commenced on 5th January, 2026 and ended on 17th April 2026, registering 4,121,835 voters; while Phase III commenced on 11th May 2026 and ended on 26th July 2026, registering 3,867,997 voters.
The chairman noted that the total new registration stood at 10,772,421, subject to the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) verification currently being concluded.
In the third phase, Amupitan explained that the commission introduced the Online Registration Portal technology to eliminate barriers of distance and time.
He stated: “Furthermore, we introduced Printable PVC technology in line with Section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 to ensure that waiting months for a card becomes a relic of the past.
“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.
“More importantly, I am using this high-level forum of editors to officially remind the Nigerian public that the nationwide collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) will commence in exactly four days, on Friday, 9th October 2026.”
Amupitan disclosed that the commission has completed the processing and distribution of Phase 1 PVCs to all local government centres.
Amupitan stated: “To eliminate the perennial challenge of late arrival of polling materials, early procurement and delivery of non-sensitive materials to State Offices have already commenced.
“Furthermore, we have procured and begun distributing brand-new operational pick-up vehicles to State Offices and LGAs nationwide to navigate challenging terrains.”