ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released comprehensive statistical updates from the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, announcing that a total of 2,436,275 eligible citizens successfully completed their registration across the country in Phase III, week nine of the national drive.

The official data, compiled up to July 10, 2026, encompasses both online pre-registrations completed at physical centers and direct in-person captures nationwide. According to the commission, the figures remain preliminary pending administrative verification, statutory period for claims and objections, and the mandatory deployment of the Automated Biodata Identification System (ABIS) to eliminate duplicate entries or fraudulent records from the national database.

INEC clarified that while voter registration activities remain active across the majority of the country's 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the exercise was temporarily suspended in Osun State in compliance with Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022 due to the forthcoming state governorship election scheduled for August 2026.

Youth and Female Participation Drive Enrollment Trends

A detailed breakdown of the statistical report underscores significant democratic participation among young Nigerians and women, signaling high levels of civic interest in the upcoming election cycles leading into the 2027 general elections.

Youths aged between 18 and 34 years constitute the absolute majority of new registrants nationwide. A total of 1,644,885 young citizens in this age bracket completed the registration process, representing 67.52 percent of the overall total.

Age Group Demographics Distribution:
• 18–34 Years (Youth): 1,644,885 (67.52%)
• 35–49 Years (Middle-Aged): 527,882 (21.67%)
• 50–69 Years (Elderly): 240,816 (9.88%)
• 70+ Years (Senior Citizens): 22,692 (0.93%)

Gender metrics from the registration update show that female enrolment outpaced male participation during the review period. A total of 1,278,444 women completed their registration, representing 52.48 percent of the national figure, while male registrants stood at 1,157,831, accounting for 47.52 percent.

In terms of delivery channels, the commission recorded 1,612,951 physical completions at designated state and local government registration centers, alongside 823,324 completed applications initiated through INEC's online portal.

Occupational Breakdown and Inclusivity Metrics

The occupational distribution of new voters reveals broad civic participation across diverse economic and professional sectors. Students emerged as the single largest occupational category among new applicants, recording 576,682 registrations (23.67 percent), followed closely by business owners and entrepreneurs with 513,004 registrations (21.06 percent).

Primary Occupational Categories:
• Students: 576,682 (23.67%)
• Business Owners: 513,004 (21.06%)
• Farmers & Fishermen: 417,806 (17.15%)
• Housewives: 389,841 (16.00%)
• Artisans: 123,063 (5.05%)
• Traders: 108,785 (4.46%)
• Civil Servants: 62,012 (2.54%)
• Public Servants: 38,803 (1.59%)

In line with electoral guidelines aimed at promoting equity and accessibility, the commission captured 25,649 Persons Living With Disabilities (PWDs) across participating states during the period under review.

Geographic Distribution Across States

Geographic data highlights varying levels of registration volume across different political zones, with northern and southern commercial centers recording significant voter turnout at designated registration points.

Kano State led the national tally with 182,749 completed registrations, followed by Edo State with 121,554. Commercial center Lagos recorded 114,983, while Delta State logged 108,547 completions.

Top State Registration Totals:
• Kano: 182,749
• Edo: 121,554
• Lagos: 114,983
• Delta: 108,547
• Taraba: 94,432
• Sokoto: 91,207
• Ebonyi: 84,118
• Jigawa: 79,837
• Bauchi: 77,881
• Benue: 76,442
• Ogun: 75,633
• Cross River: 75,131
• Anambra: 71,800+
• Oyo: 71,200+
• Imo: 70,087

Institutional Next Steps: ABIS Verification and Claims Period

Following the conclusion of Phase III registration windows, INEC will transition to the statutory review phase mandated by the Electoral Act. The collected biometric and demographic data will undergo thorough processing using the Automated Biodata Identification System (ABIS) to detect and eliminate duplicate records, incomplete entries, or underage registrations.

Once the biometric cleanup is finalized, the commission will display the preliminary register of voters across local government headquarters and registration areas nationwide. This display provides a dedicated window for citizens to raise claims, correct typographical errors in personal details, or file formal objections against the inclusion of ineligible persons prior to the final certification and printing of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).