Lagos, Kano and Kaduna have emerged as the three states with the largest voting populations ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, according to the latest voter register released by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The three states have a combined 18,721,549 registered voters, giving them significant electoral weight as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 elections.
Lagos leads the country with 7,488,633 registered voters, followed by Kano with 6,570,276 and Kaduna with 4,662,640. INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, disclosed the figures on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ meeting and press conference in Abuja while presenting the commission’s latest update on the national register.
According to him, Nigeria now has 103,428,715 registered voters following the completion of the three-phase Continuous Voter Registration exercise and the subsequent biometric verification and clean-up of the register.
“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 while listing the states with the highest number of registered voters.
Katsina occupies fourth position with 3,876,051 voters, while Rivers is fifth with 3,736,434.
Oyo follows with 3,588,111, Delta has 3,525,988, Benue 3,057,225, Ogun 3,037,981, while Bauchi completes the top 10 with 3,012,547 registered voters.
The concentration of millions of registered voters in the leading states is expected to make voter mobilisation, turnout and electoral strategy in those states particularly important to parties and candidates seeking victory in 2027.
Beyond the state-by-state figures, the register also provides a picture of the electorate that political parties will be seeking to win over.
Voters aged between 35 and 49 years constitute the largest age group, with 43,265,946 voters, representing 41.83 per cent of the register.
They are followed by voters aged 18 to 34, who number 29,777,576, representing 28.79 per cent.
Those aged 50 to 69 account for 22,982,900 voters, or 22.22 per cent, while voters aged 70 and above constitute 7,402,291, or 7.16 per cent.
The figures show that voters below 50 years account for more than 70 per cent of the national register, putting younger and middle-aged voters at the heart of the 2027 electoral contest.
There is also a gender gap in the register, with male voters numbering 53,528,218, or 51.75 per cent, compared with 49,900,497 female voters, representing 48.25 per cent.
The three-phase CVR exercise recorded 10,772,421 new registrations before the final biometric verification and clean-up.
At the other end of the register, Ekiti has the lowest number of registered voters at 1,055,708, followed by Bayelsa with 1,200,691.
The Federal Capital Territory has 1,732,043 registered voters, while Ondo and Gombe have 1,733,641 and 1,768,560 respectively.
The commission also recorded 232,658 persons with disabilities across 10 categories.
Persons classified under “others” constitute the largest group at 101,183, followed by persons with albinism at 44,023 and those with physical impairment at 27,141.
INEC said nationwide collection of newly issued Permanent Voter Cards would begin on October 9, 2026.
The commission will also display the voters’ register nationwide from October 9 to 15 to allow Nigerians to scrutinise their details and raise claims or objections ahead of the 2027 elections.
Amupitan said the exercise was being conducted in compliance with Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026.
“The register of voters will be displayed for public scrutiny from the 9th to 15th of October 2026, not later than 90 days before the general election,” he said.
What You Should Know
In simple terms, this report regarding 2027: Lagos, Kano, Kaduna Top Nigeria’s Voter Register highlights key developments that may impact citizens and stakeholders. On the positive side, constructive action and policy clarity can bring convenience, accountability, and opportunities for the public. On the other hand, any implementation delays, added costs, or operational disruptions could pose challenges for everyday people and affected sectors.
