Only INEC Can Declare 2027 Results, Amupitan Insists, As Lagos, Kano, Kaduna Top Voter’s Register
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that it remains the sole authority legally empowered to announce the outcomes of the upcoming 2027 general elections.
Speaking at a national stakeholders meeting and press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan issued a stern warning against parallel voting results or premature declarations by political actors.
“Only INEC can declare the 2027 results,” Amupitan insisted, emphasizing that any alternative declaration violates the constitutional framework governing Nigeria’s democratic process.
During the briefing, the electoral umpire unveiled the official breakdown of the national voter register, which has climbed to over 103 million eligible voters following a rigorous three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise and an intensive biometric clean-up.
The data reveals a heavy concentration of voting power in specific regional hubs.
Lagos State firmly commands the lead as the state with the highest number of registered voters, boasting 7,488,633 citizens. Kano State follows in second place with 6,570,276 voters, while Kaduna State secures the third spot with 4,662,640 registered individuals. Other highly populated states driving the register’s top tier include Katsina and Rivers.
Conversely, less populated areas are leading from the rear. Ekiti State anchors the very bottom of the national spectrum, recording the lowest overall voter turnout with roughly 1.06 million registered voters, closely accompanied by Yobe State at the lower end of the statistical ladder.
To manage the unprecedented electorate volume, Chairman Amupitan confirmed that strict electronic verifications through the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will be deployed to secure votes ahead of the general elections scheduled for January 2027.
