The Independent National Electoral Commission released figures on Tuesday showing Lagos, Kano and Kaduna as the states with the highest number of registered voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Joash Amupitan, Chairman of INEC, disclosed the data during a stakeholders meeting and press conference in Abuja. He provided an update on the national voters’ register after the three-phase continuous voter registration exercise.
Amupitan said Lagos tops the list with 7,488,633 registered voters. He added that Kano follows with 6,570,276 voters. Next is Kaduna with 4,662,640 voters.
“The top 10 states by number of registered voters are Lagos State in first position with 7,488,633 registered voters; followed by Kano State with 6,570,276. Next is Kaduna State with 4,662,640 voters. Next is Katsina State with 3,876,051,” Amupitan said.
He listed Rivers as the fifth state with 3,736,434 registered voters. Oyo recorded 3,588,111 voters, while Delta had 3,525,988.
Benue State came next with 3,057,225 registered voters. Ogun State followed with 3,037,981. Bauchi completed the top 10 with 3,012,547 registered voters.
The three-phase continuous voter registration exercise recorded 10,772,421 new registrations before the final biometric verification and clean-up of the register. Consequently, the national register of voters rose significantly.
INEC scheduled the nationwide collection of newly issued Permanent Voter Cards to begin on October 9, 2026. Amupitan noted that the updated figures position Nigeria as the largest democracy in Africa based on its voter population.
The commission presented the data as part of its ongoing preparations for the 2027 general elections.
