INEC Releases First Update on Online Voter Registration, Osun Leads with Highest Turnout

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released its first statistical update on the ongoing online Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), with Osun, Lagos, and Ogun States emerging as the leading states in new registrations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to the figures, Osun recorded the highest number of new registrants with 393,269, representing 28.51% of the total. Lagos followed with 222,205 (16.11%), Ogun with 132,823 (9.63%), and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with 107,682 (7.81%).

At the lower end, the South East states posted the weakest turnout. Ebonyi registered just 261 (0.02%), Imo 481 (0.03%), Enugu 484 (0.04%), while Abia, the zone’s highest, had only 772 (0.06%). Combined, the five South East states recorded a total of just 1,998 registrations in the first week.

A zonal breakdown placed the South West in the lead with 848,359 registrants, followed by the North Central and FCT with 250,218. The North West recorded 141,349, the North East 77,653, the South South 59,676, while the South East trailed with the lowest numbers.

The statistics further revealed that 27,089 persons living with disabilities have so far completed their online registration.

INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, confirmed in a statement that a total of 1,379,342 Nigerians completed online pre-registration within the first week of the exercise, which began on Monday, August 18, 2025.

“The Commission is pleased to release the first weekly update of the exercise by providing details of registration by state, gender, age, occupation and disability” the statement read.

Olumekun noted that women accounted for a slightly higher number of registrants than men, with 717,856 (52.04%) females compared to 661,846 (47.96%) males. Young Nigerians aged 18–34 made up the majority, totaling 860,286 (62.37%).

By occupation, students dominated the figures with 374,534 registrants, representing 27.15% of the total.

INEC added that full details of the registration breakdown have been published on its website and other official platforms for public access.