Registration data released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) indicate that Kano is leading other 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the third phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise with 61,128 completed registrations as of June 5, 2026.
  
This was as the National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, outlined measures to ensure INEC conducts credible elections in 2027
  
Kano is closely followed by Sokoto with 38,006 completed registrations, and Lagos with 35,811, while Kaduna, Jigawa, and Delta states have 32,928, 32,969, and 30,925, respectively.
  
Overall, the North-West is leading in the third phase with 229,428 completed registrations of eligible voters, followed by the North-East with 131,324, the North-Central with 130,151, the South-South with 107,189, the South-West with 84,674, and the South-East with 74,684.
  
The CVR is presently suspended in Ekiti and Osun states until the conclusion of the off-cycle governorship elections in the two states scheduled for June 20 and August 15.
  
Ondo is last on the log, with 4,510 completed registrations, followed by Akwa Ibom with 6,800 voters, Plateau with 8,026, Borno with 10,474, and Kwara with 10,779 voters.
  
The voter registration, which is part of preparations for the 2027 general election, is expected to be concluded in August to allow INEC to carry out a clean-up of the register to remove names of those with double registration.

Baba-Ahmed, who spoke in Abuja yesterday, asserted that the commission must be empowered to insulate it from undue political influence.
  
He said the appointment of the INEC chairman, national commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) should be reviewed to reduce executive control over the electoral body.
  
The PRP national chairman advocated budgetary independence for INEC, arguing that the commission should be allowed to defend its budget independently before the National Assembly.
  
He also called for tougher sanctions for electoral malpractices and violence.
 
According to him, electoral offences have continued to thrive because perpetrators are rarely punished.
  
“Politicians who compromise the electoral process must face the consequences of their actions. The culture of impunity must end,” he said.
  
Baba-Ahmed, a former secretary to INEC, warned that any election lacking credibility could further weaken the country’s democracy and undermine public confidence in democratic institutions.
  
He added that broader reforms, aimed at strengthening key institutions such as INEC, would be central to the PRP’s restructuring agenda for the country.