By Omoyeni Ojeifo
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Nigeria’s National Register of Voters has crossed the 103 million mark following the addition of over 10.6 million new applicants.
Speaking at a strategic workshop with media executives in Abuja on Monday, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan confirmed the updated figures.
The workshop, organised by INEC, DAI and the Nigerian Guild of Editors, was themed “Strengthening Democracy Through Partnership Among Editors, Civil Society and Electoral Institutions.”
He explained that the disclosure was particularly important as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, with INEC working to ensure a transparent, technology-driven and credible electoral process.
The Commission’s three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise had attracted more than 10.6 million new applicants, while the public display of the Preliminary Register for claims and objections had been completed.
“The Commission has also completed the final Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) cleanup of the register,” he said.
Amupitan called for stronger partnership among INEC, editors, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to strengthen confidence in the electoral process.
“The ultimate arbiter of electoral integrity is public trust,” Amupitan declared.
He urged newsrooms to establish digital fact-verification desks, with INEC ready to provide direct access for verifying field incidents, logistics and security reports in real time.
The chairman also proposed a sustained editorial feedback mechanism with the Nigerian Guild of Editors throughout the 2027 electoral cycle.
Amupitan further announced that nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, will begin on Friday, October 9, 2026, while urging eligible citizens to participate.
He also reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to improving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and INEC Result Viewing Portal ahead of the 2027 elections.
NGE President Eze Anaba said the workshop was timely, given its proximity to the 2027 general elections and the need for stakeholders to deepen cooperation ahead of the polls.
Anaba maintained that elections are not merely about casting ballots but also confidence votes, with citizens expecting their votes to count and electoral institutions to act fairly and professionally.
He urged editors to uphold accuracy, fairness, balance and public interest in their coverage, stressing the responsibility of the media to provide voters with credible information.
Anaba also called for stronger access to credible and timely information from INEC, noting that effective communication between the Commission and newsrooms is essential to accurate electoral reporting.