INEC Closes Voter Registration for 2027 Nigerian General Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission concluded its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise on Sunday, July 26, 2026, as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections. The commission maintained the deadline despite pressure from opposition parties, including the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party, and various civil society organizations seeking an extension.

INEC officials defended the closure by stating it is necessary to utilize the Automated Biometric Identification System to remove duplicate registrations and produce a clean voter roll. The registration process, which began in August 2025, occurred in three phases. The first phase ended in December with over 2.5 million registrants, the second phase added 3.7 million voters by April 17, and the third phase added approximately 2.97 million Nigerians. In total, over 9.29 million eligible voters were added, with young people aged 18 to 34 representing more than 67% of those in the final phase.

While the Labour Party argued that remaining open would prevent disenfranchisement, other stakeholders like Yiaga Africa and the APC supported the deadline to ensure effective logistical planning. The final voter count will be established following biometric verification and the formal claims and objections process.