North-West Leads Six Geopolitical Zones; Lagos, Kano and Kaduna Top State Rankings as Attention Turns to Voter Turnout and Electoral Integrity
November 2, 2026
Nigeria’s registered electorate has reached 103,428,715 ahead of the 2027 general elections, according to figures attributed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), revealing significant differences in voter registration across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
The figures place Northern Nigeria, comprising the North-West, North-East and North-Central, at 56,014,673 registered voters, representing 54.16 per cent of the national register.
Southern Nigeria, comprising the South-West, South-South and South-East, accounts for 47,414,042 registered voters, representing 45.84 per cent.
The North therefore has 8,600,631 more registered voters than the South, equivalent to an 8.32-percentage-point difference in their shares of the national register.
However, this is a demographic difference in registration, not a forecast of actual votes. Electoral outcomes depend on participation, valid ballots, candidates’ support and the constitutional requirements governing presidential elections.
GEOPOLITICAL ZONAL BREAKDOWN
Rank| Geopolitical zone| Registered voters| National share
1| North-West| 25,083,411| 24.25%
2| South-West| 19,614,274| 18.96%
3| North-Central, including FCT| 16,965,787| 16.40%
4| South-South| 15,823,550| 15.30%
5| North-East| 13,965,475| 13.50%
6| South-East| 11,976,218| 11.58%
| National total| 103,428,715| 100%
Percentages are rounded.
1. NORTH-WEST — 25,083,411
State| Registered voters
Kano| 6,570,276
Kaduna| 4,662,640
Katsina| 3,876,051
Jigawa| 2,807,811
Sokoto| 2,633,113
Kebbi| 2,309,503
Zamfara| 2,224,017
Total| 25,083,411
The North-West accounts for nearly one-quarter of Nigeria’s registered electorate, making it the country’s largest geopolitical zone by voter registration.
2. SOUTH-WEST — 19,614,274
State| Registered voters
Lagos| 7,488,633
Oyo| 3,588,111
Ogun| 3,037,981
Osun| 2,327,784
Ondo| 2,116,057
Ekiti| 1,055,708
Total| 19,614,274
The South-West ranks second, with Lagos alone accounting for more than 7.4 million registered voters, the highest figure for any state.
3. NORTH-CENTRAL — 16,965,787
State/FCT| Registered voters
Benue| 3,057,225
Niger| 2,983,476
Plateau| 2,906,570
Kogi| 2,232,398
Nasarawa| 2,137,699
Kwara| 1,916,376
FCT Abuja| 1,732,043
Total| 16,965,787
The North-Central ranks third nationally, including the Federal Capital Territory for geopolitical analysis.
4. SOUTH-SOUTH — 15,823,550
State| Registered voters
Rivers| 3,736,434
Delta| 3,525,988
Edo| 2,865,263
Akwa Ibom| 2,566,196
Cross River| 1,928,978
Bayelsa| 1,200,691
Total| 15,823,550
Rivers and Delta lead the South-South, together accounting for more than seven million registered voters.
5. NORTH-EAST — 13,965,475
State| Registered voters
Bauchi| 3,012,547
Borno| 2,765,165
Adamawa| 2,431,146
Taraba| 2,254,380
Gombe| 1,768,566
Yobe| 1,733,671
Total| 13,965,475
The North-East accounts for approximately 13.5 per cent of the national register, with Bauchi recording the highest number within the zone.
6. SOUTH-EAST — 11,976,218
State| Registered voters
Anambra| 2,917,728
Imo| 2,706,052
Abia| 2,306,520
Enugu| 2,217,862
Ebonyi| 1,828,056
Total| 11,976,218
The South-East has the smallest registered electorate among the six geopolitical zones, with Anambra and Imo accounting for the largest shares.
NORTH-SOUTH COMPARISON
Region| Registered voters| National share
Northern Nigeria| 56,014,673| 54.16%
Southern Nigeria| 47,414,042| 45.84%
Difference| 8,600,631| 8.32 percentage points
WHAT THE FIGURES MEAN FOR THE 2027 ELECTIONS
The distribution of registered voters provides an important picture of Nigeria’s electoral geography.
However, voter registration represents potential participation rather than votes already secured by any political party or presidential candidate.
The decisive questions are how many registered voters will participate, how they will vote, whether their ballots will be validly counted, and whether the electoral process will meet legal and constitutional requirements.
The figures also reinforce the importance of voter education, Permanent Voter Card collection, adequate polling arrangements, security and transparent result management.
In Nigeria’s presidential system, the constitutional requirement for geographical spread means that a large concentration of votes in one region cannot, by itself, settle the outcome.
Ultimately, the credibility of the 2027 elections will depend not simply on the size of the register but on the integrity of the voting and collation processes.
THE NATIONAL PATRIOTS’ POSITION
The National Patriots urge Nigerians to recognise that voter registration is only the foundation of democratic participation. The true strength of our democracy depends on citizens collecting their voter cards, voting and ensuring that electoral procedures are transparent and lawful. Regional registration figures should encourage participation, not division or premature predictions. We call on INEC, security agencies, political parties and citizens to protect electoral integrity, reject intimidation and vote buying, and uphold the credibility of the 2027 elections across Nigeria.
Princess Gloria Adebajo-Fraser, MFR
President, The National Patriots
Member, APC-PCC 2027
Source: October 2026 voter-registration figures attributed to INEC; geopolitical totals independently calculated from the supplied state-by-state data.
