2027 elections: Youths, students dominate new voter registrations

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that 3,544,850 Nigerians with more than half youths  have registered online in the first three weeks of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun, explained in a statement on Monday that the Commission would now begin releasing combined figures for both online pre-registration and in-person registration in a single report.

As of September 7, 2025, the data shows:

• 1,709,933 men (48.24%) and 1,834,917 women (51.76%) registered.
• 2,291,809 are aged between 18 and 34 years (64.65%).
• 882,441 are students (24.89%).

For physical registration, which started on August 25, 2025, a total of 288,614 people have registered so far. Out of these, 132,634 are men (45.96%) and 155,980 are women (54.04%). Among them, 215,414 are youths aged 18 to 34 (74.64%), while 114,150 are students (39.55%).

Olumekun added that detailed breakdowns by state, gender, age, and disability are already available on INEC’s official website. He praised Nigerians and civic groups for their strong participation and reminded citizens that only those who are 18 years or older are allowed to register. He warned against underage or multiple registrations, noting that INEC’s biometric system will automatically detect such offences.

Meanwhile, in Bayelsa State, INEC has announced that it will launch a voter education road show on September 11, 2025. The program, led by the Voter Education, Publicity and Gender Department, aims to engage communities through drama, music, and outreach to clear up misinformation and encourage eligible citizens to register and collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

According to the Head of Department, Christian Utong, the CVR is meant only for those who have never registered, new voters who just turned 18, and people with lost, defaced, or damaged PVCs. He also cautioned that multiple registrations are a crime.

Utong stressed that INEC wants an inclusive process that reaches women, youths, people with disabilities, and those in remote areas. Civil society groups, including the Women Organized for Mentorship and Advocacy Network (WOMAN), have pledged their support.

The September 11 road show marks the first phase of mass mobilization for voter education in Bayelsa. INEC officials will be on the ground to assist with voter registration checks, help citizens resolve issues, and guide them in securing their PVCs.

INEC reminded Nigerians that the PVC is the only valid document for voting in the 2027 general elections.