North Leads South by Over 1.5 Million in INEC Pre-Registration Figures

…Youth and Women Dominate with 4.6 Million and 3.5 Million

By Franklin Adole

Fresh figures released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) show that northern Nigeria has surged ahead of the south in the ongoing online voter pre-registration, widening the regional gap by over 1.5 million registrants. The data also reveal a powerful rise in youth and female participation, with young people making up nearly seven in ten of all new registrants and women slightly outnumbering men nationwide.

According to the Week 7 report covering the period between September 29 and October 5, 2025, a total of 6,856,979 Nigerians completed the online pre-registration process. Women led the turnout with 3,581,562 (52.23%), compared to 3,275,417 men (47.77%), while youths aged between 18 and 34 accounted for 4,689,637, representing about 68% of the total. INEC also reported that 1,728,384 students and 154,479 persons with disabilities completed their pre-registration during the week.

A breakdown of the data shows that the nineteen northern states and the Federal Capital Territory recorded 4,224,142 pre-registrations, while the seventeen southern states collectively accounted for 2,632,837, leaving a difference of 1,591,305 in favour of the North. Borno topped the national chart with 745,160 pre-registrations, followed by Kebbi (525,108), Kaduna (429,886), and Kano (348,181). Other northern states with high figures included Kogi (322,495), Yobe (266,356), Jigawa (228,783), FCT (227,405), Zamfara (203,236), Katsina (148,906), Nasarawa (142,438), Sokoto (140,961), Bauchi (138,802), Kwara (124,800), Niger (96,641), Gombe (86,696), Plateau (76,978), Taraba (47,782), Benue (45,827), and Adamawa (42,373).

In the South, Osun led with 615,639 pre-registrations, followed by Lagos (574,325) and Ogun (468,931). Other notable figures include Oyo (212,290), Delta (131,021), Cross River (105,136), and Ekiti (102,709). Lower figures were recorded in Imo (65,272), Akwa Ibom (54,621), Rivers (44,628), Bayelsa (41,026), Ondo (15,841), Edo (10,810), Enugu (11,052), Ebonyi (9,269), and Abia, which recorded the lowest figure with 5,595 pre-registrations.

INEC sources attributed the surge in the North to an aggressive grassroots mobilisation campaign led by community-based organisations, traditional institutions, and religious leaders, particularly in Borno, Kebbi, and Kogi States. In contrast, officials said the South’s slower pace was due to urban voter fatigue and delays in online verification, though renewed campaigns were ongoing in major cities such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Enugu.

INEC also reported that during the previous week (Week 6), from September 29 to October 3, 1,216,048 Nigerians completed both online and physical registration. Of these, 658,766 finalised online while 557,282 did so at registration centres. Again, women led with 675,222 (55.53%), compared to 540,826 men (44.47%), while youths aged 18 to 34 accounted for 897,676 of the total. Students made up 424,126, and 17,450 persons with disabilities were fully registered.

Analysts note that the latest figures mark a turning point in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which began on August 18, 2025. For the first time since the process started, the northern states have overtaken the South, reflecting heightened voter awareness and mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections. INEC officials say the commission is monitoring the trend to ensure equitable access nationwide.

The regional breakdown underscores a growing enthusiasm among young Nigerians and women, who together account for the overwhelming majority of new registrants. As registration enters its eighth week, the North’s strong showing, coupled with youth and female momentum, may prove decisive in reshaping the country’s electoral landscape ahead of 2027.