Southern states are dominating the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, with Osun, Lagos, and Ogun consistently topping online pre-registration figures, while northern states intensify mobilisation drives to close the widening gap ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), more than 3.5 million Nigerians have completed online pre-registration as of September 7, barely three weeks after the exercise commenced on August 18. A breakdown of the figures shows Osun leading with over 518,000 registrations, followed by Lagos with 440,000, Ogun with 348,000, and Borno with nearly 296,000. By contrast, Kano, despite its large population, has recorded just over 66,000 registrants, while states like Zamfara and Plateau hover around 32,000.
The disparity has prompted northern leaders and community stakeholders to launch voter mobilisation campaigns across the region. In Kano, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf inaugurated a task force to boost participation, pledging to make the state the top voter-registration hub in the country. Similarly, Zamfara’s government has set up a sensitisation committee led by the deputy governor, while governors in Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kwara, and Yobe have rolled out grassroots strategies ranging from training volunteers to engaging traditional and religious leaders to drive awareness.
Meanwhile, the surge in southern registration figures has stirred controversy. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Labour Party (LP) have questioned the unusually high numbers from Osun State, calling for a forensic audit. INEC has dismissed the claims as unfounded, insisting that the figures align with historical voter registration trends. The commission also reminded the public that only Nigerians aged 18 and above who have never registered before are eligible, warning against encouraging underage or duplicate registrations.
With young people leading the surge, over 64 percent of registrants are aged between 18 and 34, and nearly a quarter are students. Analysts say the registration trends could significantly shape the political landscape in 2027 if northern states fail to bridge the gap. Political observers warn that the current imbalance, if not addressed, may tilt electoral advantages towards the South, underscoring the urgency of the ongoing mobilisation efforts in the North.
