KEY POINTS

• INEC has recorded 3,441,121 registrations in the second phase of continuous voter registration, with 2,068,384 completed online and 1,372,737 at physical centers as of April 3
• Jigawa led all states with 201,047 sign-ups, followed by Lagos at 181,095 and Kano at 177,681; youth aged 18-34 account for 68.43 percent of all new registrants
• Women make up 55.86 percent of registrants; students form the largest occupational group at 35.92 percent; 48,330 persons with disabilities also signed up

The Independent National Electoral Commission says continuous voter registration has crossed 3.4 million sign-ups nationwide, with youth and women driving the bulk of new registrations. The commission released its week 13 update Wednesday in Abuja, putting total registrations at 3,441,121 as of April 3. Of that figure, 2,068,384 citizens registered online and 1,372,737 completed physical sign-ups at designated centers.

Jigawa led all states with 201,047 registrants, accounting for 5.84 percent of the national total. Lagos followed with 181,095, while Kano ranked third at 177,681.

Youth drive more than two-thirds of all sign-ups

Citizens aged 18 to 34 account for 2,354,768 registrants, or 68.43 percent of the total, making young Nigerians the dominant force in the continuous voter registration exercise. Women also outnumber men among new voters, with females making up 1,922,143 registrations, or 55.86 percent, against 1,518,978 males at 44.14 percent.

Students form the largest occupational group at 1,235,931, representing 35.92 percent of all registrants. Business owners follow at 701,912, or 20.4 percent, and farmers and fishers account for 615,967, or 18.28 percent. Additionally, 48,330 persons with disabilities registered during the period.

Figures remain provisional as data clean-up begins

INEC cautioned that the totals are preliminary. The commission explained that the count is “a preliminary figure pending data clean-up during the period for citizens’ claims and objections, followed by the deployment of the Automated Biometric Identification System.”

Meanwhile, the FCT falls outside the exercise under Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2022, following the Area Council Election on February 21. The commission urged eligible Nigerians who have not yet registered to visit its official portals before the deadline closes.