INEC Data Shows Women Outnumber Men in First Week of Online Voter Pre-Registration

New data released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that more women than men participated in the first week of the online pre-registration for new voters.

A total of 1,379,342 Nigerians signed up through the digital portal, with female registrants outnumbering their male counterparts.

According to the detailed breakdown provided by the commission, 717,856 of those who pre-registered were women, representing 52.04% of the total. Men accounted for 661,846 registrations, or 47.96% of the week’s figure. The data highlights a notable gender gap in early participation in the electoral process, with nearly 56,000 more women than men completing the online preliminary step.

The commission also shared further demographic insights, noting that “young people between the ages of 18 and 34 constitute the majority of the registrants with 860,286 (62.37%).” In terms of occupation, students made up a significant portion, with 374,534 registrations. The data also included persons with disabilities, who accounted for 27,089 of the new applications.

Alongside the publication of these figures, INEC has today commenced physical voter registration at its 811 state and local government offices nationwide. This phase is critical for completing the process, allowing both those who pre-registered online and those opting for direct sign-up to finalise their voter registration.

The commission reiterated that the exercise is intended only for Nigerian citizens who are at least 18 years old and have not previously registered to vote. It also warned that “double or multiple registration is a violation of the law,” though it reminded the public that transfers and replacement of lost or damaged PVCs are permitted.

INEC encouraged all eligible Nigerians to take part without delay, noting that the opportunity to register will remain open until August 2026. It urged people not to wait until the last minute, citing past experiences where registration centres became overcrowded as the deadline loomed. Full details of the registration statistics have been made available on INEC’s official website and social media platforms.