Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Monday that Nigeria’s national voters register had risen to over 103 million following the completion of the three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise and final biometric cleanup.
Prof. Joash Amupitan, the INEC Chairman disclosed this in his keynote address at a one-day strategic workshop for editors, organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors in collaboration with the commission in Abuja.
He said the three phases of the CVR exercise produced 10,772,421 new registrations, subject to verification by the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS).
“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.
INEC first projected the 100 million voter register mark in August, when the INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, said the voter register, then standing at over 93 million, was expected to surpass 100 million after the completion of the CVR exercise.
Amupitan said in September that the national register was “approaching the 100 million mark,” following 10,772,421 new registrations during the CVR exercise, subject to ABIS verification.
The INEC chairman further announced that the nationwide collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) would commence on Friday, October 9, 2026.
He said the commission had completed the processing and distribution of Phase 1 PVCs to all local government centres ahead of the commencement of collection.
Amupitan urged the media to inform citizens about collection locations and encourage registered voters to collect their cards promptly.
He also disclosed that the commission had acquired 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He stated: “We have instituted hardware, software, and cybersecurity enhancements across our technological architecture. We have acquired 57,000 new BVAS for optimal performance.
“The devices have undergone extensive software hardening, battery optimisation, and biometric calibration to prevent accreditation bypass and eliminate manual manipulation.”