The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed the 10 states with the highest number of registered voters ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Lagos State topping the list with 7,488,633 registered voters.
The figures were disclosed by the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, on Tuesday during the commission’s World Press Conference on preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Kano State ranks second with 6,000,570 registered voters, followed by Kaduna State with 4,000,640, while Katsina State occupies the fourth position with 3,876,051 registered voters.
Oyo State is fifth on the list with 3,588,111 registered voters, followed by Delta State with 3,525,988.
Benue State ranks seventh with 3,057,225 registered voters, while Ogun State occupies the eighth position with 3,037,981.
Rivers State is ninth with 3,000,734 registered voters, while Bauchi State completes the top 10 with 3,000,047 registered voters.
Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) have charged INEC to maintain strict adherence to electoral rules and ensure a free, fair and credible 2027 general election.
The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, who spoke at the conference, urged the electoral commission to build on what he described as its achievements during the recent Osun State governorship election.
Mignot said the commission must ensure that the 2027 elections are conducted transparently and credibly, stressing that credible elections were critical to preventing post-election violence.
He said the EU’s interest was in Nigeria’s democratic process and the welfare of Nigerians, rather than supporting any particular candidate or political party.
While reaffirming the EU’s continued engagement with Nigeria’s democratic process, Mignot disclosed that the bloc had already announced plans to deploy an Electoral Expert Mission for the 2027 general elections.
He urged INEC and other stakeholders to ensure strict compliance with the rules governing the elections.
Also speaking, the National Chairman of IPAC, Yusuf Dantelle, urged INEC to maintain neutrality throughout the electoral process.
Dantelle equally called on security agencies deployed for the elections to remain neutral and resist any attempt to use them for partisan purposes.
He stressed that all stakeholders, particularly INEC and the security agencies, must discharge their responsibilities without bias to safeguard the credibility of the 2027 elections.
Amupitan, while acknowledging the contributions of stakeholders and participants at the conference, said the commission remained committed to providing relevant information as preparations for the 2027 general elections continue.
