Lagos State has emerged as the state with the highest number of registered voters in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 general elections, according to the latest figures released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The commission said the country’s National Register of Voters has now surpassed 103 million following the conclusion of the three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise and the completion of a final biometric verification and clean-up.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed the figures on Tuesday during the commission’s World Press Conference and National Stakeholders Meeting in Abuja, where he provided an update on preparations for the 2027 elections.
Lagos tops the national register with 7,488,633 registered voters, followed by Kano State with 6,570,276 and Kaduna State with 4,662,640.
Katsina occupies the fourth position with 3,876,051 voters, while Rivers State ranks fifth with 3,736,434.
Oyo is sixth with 3,588,111 registered voters, followed by Delta with 3,525,988. Benue has 3,057,225, Ogun has 3,037,981, while Bauchi completes the top 10 with 3,012,547 registered voters.
Full List of Top 10 States
| Rank | State | Registered Voters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lagos | 7,488,633 |
| 2 | Kano | 6,570,276 |
| 3 | Kaduna | 4,662,640 |
| 4 | Katsina | 3,876,051 |
| 5 | Rivers | 3,736,434 |
| 6 | Oyo | 3,588,111 |
| 7 | Delta | 3,525,988 |
| 8 | Benue | 3,057,225 |
| 9 | Ogun | 3,037,981 |
| 10 | Bauchi | 3,012,547 |
Amupitan said the three phases of the CVR exercise produced 10,772,421 new registrations, which subsequently went through the Automated Biometric Identification System process as part of the commission’s effort to clean the register and eliminate multiple or irregular registrations.
The figures place Lagos, Kano and Kaduna at the centre of the electoral map ahead of the 2027 contest, although the size of a state’s voter register does not necessarily translate directly into the number of votes ultimately cast. Voter turnout, voter accreditation, mobilisation and the ability of political parties to convert registered voters into actual ballots will remain critical factors during the election.
INEC also disclosed that male voters account for 53,528,218, representing 51.75 per cent of the register, while female voters number 49,900,497, representing 48.25 per cent.
The commission said voters aged between 35 and 49 constitute the largest age group, with more than 43.2 million registered voters, while those aged 18 to 34 account for about 29.8 million.
Beyond the figures, INEC is also moving into the next stage of preparations for the election. The commission said the voters’ register would be displayed nationwide from October 9 to 16, 2026, allowing citizens to scrutinise their details and raise claims or objections.
The first phase of Permanent Voter Card distribution at local government centres is also scheduled to commence on October 9.
With more than 103 million names now on the register, the 2027 election is shaping up around an electorate whose geographical distribution will be closely watched by political parties and candidates. The figures also underscore the electoral weight of Lagos, Kano and Kaduna as the country moves closer to the presidential and National Assembly elections.