Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to publish the preliminary register of voters online, despite the October 18, 2026 deadline, raising concerns over public access to the names of more than 103 million registered voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Chairman Joash Amupitan told editors on October 5 that the national register now stands above 103 million following the end of three phases of continuous voter registration and a final biometric cleanup.
The commission announced that the national voter register had reached 103,428,715 following the completion of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise and a final biometric review. However, reports published this week indicate that the online portal remained unavailable for public inspection of the preliminary register after the legal deadline expired.
The development has raised concerns about transparency, voter verification and the ability of Nigerians to identify errors in the register before the next general election.
Under Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, INEC is required to make the preliminary register available for public scrutiny at registration areas and on its official website within the period set by law.
With the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, the 90 day deadline for the exercise fell on October 18, 2026.
INEC had earlier conducted a physical display of the preliminary register from October 9 to 15, allowing registered voters to inspect their details and raise claims or objections.
However, reports by Nigerian media outlets indicated that the commission’s online voter portal still did not provide access to the preliminary register after the deadline. This has prompted fresh calls for the electoral body to explain the delay and make the records available online.
Atiku Demands Publication of Voters’ Names
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on INEC to publish the full preliminary register, arguing that announcing the total number of registered voters is not enough without allowing citizens to inspect the names behind the figure.
In a statement issued through his campaign communications team on October 22, Atiku questioned why Nigerians could not access the register online despite the commission’s announcement that more than 103 million people were registered.
He also called for the register to be organised by local government area, area council and ward to make verification easier for voters, political parties and other interested groups.
Atiku said public access was necessary to establish whether eligible voters had been omitted, whether incorrect entries remained on the register and whether the records contained names that should not be included.
As of October 23, reports on his demand did not include an official response from INEC directly addressing the alleged failure to publish the preliminary register online.
How Nigeria Reached 103 Million Registered Voters
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, announced the increase in the national register after the commission completed three phases of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise and carried out a final biometric cleanup.
The registration exercise ran from August 25, 2025, to July 26, 2026, and recorded more than 10.7 million new registrations before biometric verification.
The first phase, which ended on December 10, 2025, recorded 2,611,266 registrations.
The second phase, conducted from January 5 to April 17, 2026, recorded 4,121,835 registrations.
The third phase, which ran from May 11 to July 26, 2026, added another 3,867,997 registrations.
The commission subsequently used its Automated Biometric Identification System to review the records and identify potential duplicate registrations.
INEC said the exercise had increased the national register to 103,428,715 voters, making it one of the largest electorates in Africa.
Lagos Has the Highest Number of Registered Voters
Data released by INEC shows that Lagos State has the highest number of registered voters, with 7,488,633.
Kano State follows with 6,570,276, while Kaduna State has 4,662,640 registered voters.
Katsina has 3,876,051 voters, followed by Rivers with 3,736,434, Oyo with 3,588,111 and Delta with 3,525,988.
Benue has 3,057,225 registered voters, Ogun has 3,037,981, while Bauchi has 3,012,547.
Ekiti State has the lowest number among the states listed, with 1,055,708 registered voters. Bayelsa has 1,200,691, while the Federal Capital Territory has 1,732,043.
The figures underline the importance of making the register available for public inspection, particularly in states with large numbers of registered voters.
Men Make Up 51.75 Per Cent of the Register
INEC’s figures also show that men account for a slight majority of registered voters.
The register contains 53,528,218 male voters, representing 51.75 per cent of the total.
Female voters number 49,900,497, accounting for approximately 48.25 per cent.
Voters aged between 35 and 49 form the largest age group, with 43,265,946 people, representing 41.83 per cent of the register.
Those aged between 18 and 34 number 29,777,576, while voters between 50 and 69 account for 22,982,900.
The register also includes 7,402,291 voters aged 70 and above.
INEC reported that 232,658 registered voters have disabilities, spread across 10 categories.
What the Law Says About the Delay
Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 provides for public scrutiny of the preliminary register at registration areas and through INEC’s official website.
The purpose of the exercise is to give voters and other interested parties an opportunity to identify errors, challenge questionable entries and seek corrections before the register is finalised.
Section 19(2) also provides for the consideration of claims and objections within 14 days of the display or publication of the register.
Section 19(5) sets out penalties for electoral officials who fail to carry out the required display or publication, including a fine of ₦100,000, imprisonment for six months, or both, upon conviction.
Legal concerns have therefore emerged over whether the failure to make the register available online within the prescribed period amounts to a breach of the law.
INEC has said the preliminary register was displayed physically for public scrutiny. However, the commission’s reported position has not fully explained why the online publication was not available by the statutory deadline.
December Deadline for the Final Register
INEC has indicated that the final register is expected to be presented to political parties on December 15, 2026, following the review of claims and objections.
The commission has also announced plans for the nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the elections.
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
With the election dates approaching, public access to the register remains an important part of preparations for the polls.
The outstanding questions include when INEC will make the preliminary register accessible online, how voters can verify their details and whether sufficient time will remain to resolve complaints before the final register is released.
For millions of Nigerians, the issue goes beyond the headline figure of 103 million registered voters. It concerns whether citizens can confirm that their names are correctly recorded and whether the electoral process provides a clear opportunity to challenge errors before election day.
