Kano tops fresh voter registration with 182,749 as registrants cross 2.4m

Kano State has led the nation in fresh voter registration during the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, registering 182,749 new voters as of 10th July 2026. This marks the highest number of completions among all states participating in the ongoing process. The tally brings the total number of completed registrations nationwide to over 2.4 million, with more than 1.6 million coming from physical registration sites and nearly 823,000 through online platforms. The latest data released by INEC shows that Kano's success stems from a combination of both online and physical registration methods. Specifically, the state recorded 60,325 online registrations and 122,424 in-person submissions. These numbers account for 7.50 percent of the total registrations captured across the country during this phase of the exercise. The figures highlight the state’s robust engagement with the CVR initiative, reflecting efforts to expand access to voting rights. Lagos State came second, with 114,983 registrations, contributing 4.72 percent to the national total. Other states such as Edo, Delta, and Sokoto also saw substantial participation, with Edo securing 121,554 registrations, representing 4.99 percent, while Delta recorded 108,547, or 4.46 percent. Sokoto contributed 91,207, making up 3.74 percent of the overall count. States like Bauchi and Jigawa also performed well, with 77,881 and 79,837 registrations respectively, contributing 3.20 and 3.28 percent to the national total. Notably, some states reported minimal activity. Ekiti State had just 84 registrations, amounting to less than 0.01 percent of the national total, while Ondo State recorded 14,407, or 0.59 percent. These low figures suggest challenges in mobilizing voters or accessing registration facilities in certain areas. Meanwhile, Osun State temporarily halted all registration activities, reporting zero completions across both online and physical channels. According to INEC, the suspension aligns with Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022, which allows for temporary halts before state-level elections. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) also played a role, with 33,288 registrations, contributing 1.37 percent to the national total. This underscores the continued effort to ensure comprehensive coverage of potential voters across all regions. INEC has emphasized that the CVR exercise is ongoing in all 36 states and the FCT, with the aim of finalizing a reliable and accurate voter register ahead of the 2027 general elections. As the registration drive progresses, there are indications that public awareness campaigns and improved infrastructure have helped boost participation. However, disparities remain, particularly in states with lower turnout. Officials have noted that these variations could reflect differences in population density, accessibility to registration centers, and local political dynamics. With the deadline for completing the CVR exercise approaching, INEC is expected to continue monitoring progress and addressing any bottlenecks to ensure smooth operations ahead of the upcoming polls.