ABUJA: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that more than 103 million Nigerians are now registered to vote ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commission also disclosed that nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will begin on October 9, 2026, urging eligible citizens who participated in the latest registration exercise to collect their cards ahead of the elections.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Monday at a strategic workshop for media executives in Abuja.
The workshop, themed Strengthening Democracy Through Partnership Among Editors, Civil Society and Electoral Institutions, was organised by INEC in collaboration with Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
According to Amupitan, the commission’s three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise attracted more than 10.6 million new applicants.
He said INEC had also completed the public display of the preliminary register of voters, during which citizens were given an opportunity to raise claims and objections.
The commission has subsequently concluded the final Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) cleanup of the voter register.
With the process completed, Amupitan said the next major stage would be the nationwide distribution and collection of PVCs.
The INEC chairman urged Nigerians who successfully participated in the registration exercise to collect their Permanent Voter Cards when the exercise begins.
He emphasised that eligible voters must ensure they have their PVCs ready if they intend to participate in the 2027 elections.
The development comes as political activities gradually intensify across the country, with political parties and aspirants already positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
Amupitan also reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to improving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
According to him, continued improvements to the technologies are necessary to strengthen the credibility, transparency and public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
“The ultimate arbiter of electoral integrity is public trust,” the INEC chairman said.
He called for closer cooperation between INEC, media organisations, civil society groups and other stakeholders to improve the quality of information available to voters.
Amupitan said INEC was willing to listen to editorial concerns, resolve operational challenges and provide timely information to the media in order to prevent misinformation from filling communication gaps.
He disclosed that the commission would provide editors with direct access to verify developments involving field incidents, logistics and security reports in real time.
The INEC chairman also proposed a sustained editorial feedback mechanism between the commission and the Nigerian Guild of Editors.
The mechanism, he said, would allow both sides to review INEC’s operational progress and address emerging challenges throughout the 2027 election cycle.
He noted that effective communication with the media would be particularly important during periods of heightened political and electoral activity.
Rudolf Elbling, team leader at Development Alternatives Incorporated, said credible elections depended not only on efficient electoral administration but also on professional, ethical and fact-based journalism.
Elbling identified electoral integrity, election technology, the security of journalists and voters, and information disorder among the major challenges likely to confront the media ahead of the 2027 elections.
He stressed that journalists had a crucial responsibility to provide voters with accurate information while holding electoral institutions, political actors and other stakeholders accountable.
The latest figures represent a significant development as Nigeria prepares for another major electoral cycle.
With more than 103 million registered voters now on the national register, the scale of the 2027 elections is expected to place increased demands on INEC’s logistics, technology, personnel and communication systems.
The commission’s ability to ensure that registered voters receive their PVCs, while maintaining the accuracy and credibility of the voter register, will remain a key part of preparations for the elections.
The strategic workshop brought together electoral officials, media executives, civil society representatives and other stakeholders to strengthen cooperation and improve public communication ahead of the 2027 elections.
As PVC collection begins on October 9, INEC is urging eligible Nigerians to take the necessary steps to ensure they are prepared to exercise their right to vote in 2027.
