Voter Register surges above 103m, as PVC collection begins Friday

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Nigeria’s national register of voters has risen beyond 103 million following an extensive continuous voter registration (CVR) drive that brought in over 10.6 million new applicants.

The milestone was disclosed by the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, during a strategic workshop held at the BON Hotel Octagon in the Jahi District of Abuja.

The event, themed “Strengthening Democracy Through Partnership Among Editors, Civil Society and Electoral Institutions,” brought together key figures from the electoral body, the Development Alternatives Incorporated, and the Nigerian Guild of Editors to address the intersection of electoral administration, technology, and public trust.

Addressing media executives, the INEC Chairman announced that the nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards will officially commence on Friday, October 9, 2026.
This announcement follows the completion of the public display of the preliminary register for claims and objections alongside the final Automated Biometric Identification System cleanup.

Stressing that operational efficiency alone cannot guarantee democratic stability, the Chairman noted that public trust remains the ultimate arbiter of electoral credibility.

He reiterated the Commission’s commitment to continually refining the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing Portal to ensure transparency and accountability at every stage of the voting process.

To safeguard the integrity of the upcoming electoral cycle, INEC leadership emphasized the urgent need to combat information disorder and close communication gaps.

The Chairman proposed a sustained editorial feedback mechanism and urged newsrooms to establish digital fact-verification desks, pledging that the electoral body will provide editors with real-time access to verify field incidents, logistical developments, and security reports.

Echoing this sentiment, the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Eze Anaba, reminded journalists of their duty to uphold accuracy, balance, and public interest, noting that citizen confidence fundamentally relies on the fairness and professionalism of the institutions conducting elections.

Further contributions from stakeholders underscored the multifaceted challenges confronting the electoral ecosystem. Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, Director of the Voter Education and Publicity Department, pointed to misinformation as a primary catalyst for declining citizen participation, while DAI Team Leader Rudolf Elbling highlighted the critical balance between effective administration and ethical, fact-based journalism.

The Executive Director of the Centre for Media and Society, Dr. Akin Akingbulu, reminded editors of their profound responsibility as stewards of electoral information, cautioning them to verify before amplifying and to steer clear of unofficial results and deepfakes.

Similarly, International Press Centre Executive Director Lanre Arogundade warned about how the political economy of the media can influence impartial reporting.

Setting the operational context for the discussions, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mal. Mohammed Haruna, detailed the Commission’s recent administrative trajectory, noting the successful execution of multiple off-season gubernatorial elections, area council votes, and the rigorous monitoring of party primaries across twenty-two political parties.

In his remarks, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola outlined the core objectives of the workshop, centering on rebuilding institutional trust, establishing round-the-clock fact-verification loops to prevent inaccurate reporting, and promoting shared democratic responsibility.

Following the formal ceremonies, participants transitioned into intensive technical sessions facilitated by prominent media scholars and experts to map out strategies for ethical gatekeeping, election technology, and electoral safety ahead of 2027.